Today, On 5th February, Former Chief Justice of India, Chandrachud, urged citizens to actively participate in the democratic process during the Delhi elections. After casting his vote, he emphasized that every election is crucial in shaping democracy. He encouraged young voters and all citizens to exercise their right to vote. His statement highlights the responsibility of individuals in reinforcing democratic values.
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, accompanied by his wife, Kalpana Das, cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly elections on Wednesday at a polling booth in Lions Vidya Mandir Secondary School near the Teen Murti area.
Speaking to ANI, the former CJI emphasized the importance of every election in a democracy,
“When it comes to a particular election, everyone associated with it views it as crucial. Whether it’s Delhi, national elections, or state elections, every single election is critical. By exercising our franchise, we demonstrate to the world and to our society that we are responsible participants in the democratic process.”
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He also urged young voters to participate actively in the electoral process,
“The young voters must step out and cast their vote. There’s plenty of time left for voting to conclude, and they should come out and make their voices heard.”
Chandrachud further highlighted the maturity of India’s democracy, noting that citizens are aware of their responsibilities.
He called for acceptance of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the validity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), stating,
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the validity of our EVMs. As the final authority in constitutional matters, the Supreme Court has affirmed their legitimacy, and we must accept this verdict.”
Polling for 70 assembly seats in Delhi, along with by-elections for two seats in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, began Wednesday morning at 7:00 am. As of 11 am, voter turnout in the single-phase Delhi assembly elections was recorded at 19.95%, according to the Election Commission of India.
The highest turnout was noted in the North East district at 24.87%, followed by Shahdara at 23.30%, while the Central district had the lowest turnout at 16.46%. A total of 699 candidates are contesting across the 70 assembly constituencies, with key contested areas including New Delhi, Jangpura, Kalkaji, Okhla, Mustafabad, Bijwasan, Kasturba Nagar, Greater Kailash, and Patparganj.