Wednesday, Jan 22, 2025 23:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Jan 21, 2025 17:22 [IST]
NEW DELHI, (IANS): A total of 699 candidates will fight for 70 Delhi Assembly seats in
the February 5 election, with the maximum number of 23 trying their luck in the
high-profile New Delhi seat of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, an official said
after the deadline to withdraw names ended on Monday.
Till a day before the declaration of the final list of
candidates, 719 candidates had remained in the fray after the scrutiny of
nomination papers on Friday-Saturday.
At least 1,522 nomination sets, including multiple ones,
were filed by 981 candidates till Sunday.
After the deadline for withdrawal of names ended on
Monday, the New Delhi constituency from where Kejriwal is fighting his fourth
election has 23 candidates. Janakpuri has 16 candidates, Karawal Nagar, Laxmi
Nager and Rohtas Nagar have 15 candidates each.
While Burari and Adarsh Nagar have 14 nominees each, over
half a dozen constituencies, including Mundka, R.K. Puram, Kalkaji, Matiala,
Dwarka and Seelampur, have 13 candidates each. The seats with 13 nominees each
include the city’s most populous constituency – Vikaspuri with 4,62,184 voters.
The smallest seat Delhi Cantonment – with just 78,893
voters - has seven candidates.
As per the EC's electoral roll, the total electorate in
the national capital stands at 1,55,24,858, out of which 83,49,645 are male,
71,73,952 female and 1,261 third-gender voters.
Earlier, a walkathon was organised on Sunday by students
of Maharaja Agrasen College, East Delhi, to raise awareness about the
importance of voting in the upcoming Delhi Legislative Assembly Election
2025.
The event aimed to inspire citizens, especially young
voters, to actively participate in the democratic process.
The walkathon witnessed enthusiastic participation from
students, faculty members, and local residents. With banners, placards, and
slogans emphasising the significance of voting, the participants appealed to
the public to exercise their right to vote and contribute to shaping the future
of Delhi.
Special emphasis was placed on encouraging first-time and
young voters to engage in the electoral process, recognising their vital role
in strengthening democracy.
This initiative was highlighted by the District
Magistrate (East), Amol Srivastava, who commended the efforts of the students
and emphasized the importance of voter awareness campaigns in increasing voter
turnout.
The walkathon reflects the collective effort to ensure an
informed and active electorate, fostering a culture of civic responsibility
among the youth.