Delhi will witness youth power during the coming Assembly polls in November this year. Eighteen and 19-year-olds will be exercising their suffrage for the first time. A total of 3,36,586 new voters have been registered till August as electorates in the Capital. last year, there were only 98,000 youth voters enrolled as electors before the MCD elections in Delhi. According to officials at the electoral office, the percentage of youth voters this year has increased from 0.7 per cent to 2.7 per cent of the total votership in Delhi.
Vikas Puri Assembly has enrolled the highest number of youth voters this time with the figure touching 10,373, followed by Matiala (8,739), Kirari (8,703), Bawana (SC) (8,536), Mundka (7,673), Karawal Nagar (7,934) and Mustafabad (,7318). Chandni Chowk constituency has the lowest number of youth on its electoral rolls at 2,396.
Political parties say that they cannot ignore youth power during elections this year ever since they channelised their angst at India Gate in the aftermath of the December 16 gang-rape. Their anger has reflected their frustration with the political system and the political class. Hence, their votes would be decisive in each Assembly constituency. Political pundits say that during the 2008 Assembly polls, the youth voters had played a crucial role in deciding the fate of several candidates of the ruling party. The final draft roll is expected to be completed by September 2.
According to data released, New Delhi district has the lowest number of youth enrolled as voters while North-West district has the highest number of youth voters registered. Data reveals that North-West district has 53,861 youth voters, North-East 44,314, South district 30,185, Central district 23,884, South-West district 45,729, East district 37,536, West district 40,575, North district 35,548 and New Delhi 24,954.
Chief Electoral Officer, Vijay Dev, said the election office has focussed on young voters, particularly those in colleges or have appeared for their Class 12 Boards. “Several campaigns have been started at school and college levels to encourage disenchanted youth into getting voter’s ID cards. Earlier, youth voters in the age groups of 18 and 19 years numbered 98,000. The enrolments this year have shot up to 3.36 lakh,” he said.