"Every election is crucial in democracy": Former CJI Chandrachud cast vote in Delhi polls

New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud along with his wife, Kalpana Das on Wednesday cast his vote in the Delhi Assembly polls at a polling booth in Lions Vidya Mandir Secondary School near the Teen Murti area.
Speaking to ANI, the former CJI asserted that every election is crucial in a democracy. "When it comes to a particular election, everybody who is associated with it regards it as crucial. Whether it's Delhi, whether it's the national elections or the state elections, every single election is crucial. By exercising our franchise, we demonstrate to the world at large and to our own society that we are responsible participants in the process of democracy as citizens," he said.
He also emphasized that young voters must come out and vote.
"The young voters must step out and cast their vote. There's lots of time left for voting to conclude and they must come out and cast their vote," the former CJI added.
Further, the former CJI emphasised that India's democracy is extraordinarily mature and people are cognizant of their responsibilities.
He also appealed to accept the Supreme Court's verdict on Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) who had affirmed its validity.
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly, repeatedly upheld the validity of our EVMs. The Supreme Court is the last voice in the constitutional space on adjudication, has affirmed the validity of the EVMs, and I think we must accept it, that's the verdict of the Supreme Court," he said.
Meanwhile, polling for 70 assembly seats of Delhi and by-polls for two seats, one each of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh began on Wednesday morning. Voting commenced at 7.00 am today.
A voter turnout of 19.95 per cent was recorded till 11 am on Wednesday in the single-phase Delhi assembly elections, as per the Election Commission of India.
According to the ECI, the highest turnout was recorded in the North East district with 24.87 per cent among all districts of the national capital followed by the Shahdara district with 23.30 per cent while the Central district recorded the lowest turnout of 16.46 per cent.
A total of 699 candidates are in the electoral fray on the 70 assembly constituency seats of the national capital.
In Delhi, the prominent contested constituencies include New Delhi, Jangpura, Kalkaji, Ohkla, Mustafabad, Bijwasan, Kasturba Nagar, Greater Kailash, Patparganj, etc. (ANI)