Gurugram district added 24,637 first-time voters in 2023: Haryana election commission
The Gurugram district has added 24,637 first-time voters in 2023, according to an analysis carried out by the Haryana election commission, which translates to 252% year-on-year increase in first-time voters — the highest increase across the state, officials aware of the development said on Wednesday
The Gurugram district has added 24,637 first-time voters in 2023, according to an analysis carried out by the Haryana election commission, which translates to 252% year-on-year increase in first-time voters — the highest increase across the state, officials aware of the development said on Wednesday.
Overall, Haryana added 343,753 new voters. (Representational image)
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In 2022, the district had added only 6,997 first time voters, the officials said.
Gurugram — which has often witnessed low voter turnout — added a total of 88,000 voters to its electoral roll, taking the total number of voters on its list to around 1,300,000, said district administration officials. Overall, Haryana added 343,753 new voters.
“Gurugram witnesses low voter enrolment and turnout, especially in urban areas. The new voters enrolled this year are majorly from these areas. Stringent efforts are being made to get more people on board to make ensuing elections more participatory and successful,” said deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav.
“We are holding special camps in societies to help with voting roll corrections. We want the entire city to participate whole heartedly in forthcoming elections,” he said.
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The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in April or May, while Haryana will hold assembly polls in October.
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The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in April or May, while Haryana will hold assembly polls in October.
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A senior district administration official involved in the electoral process said a large number of migrant workers did not register as voters in Haryana, despite the administration reaching out to them.
“We conducted mega drives in industries and migrant settlements and approached workers to get their votes made or transferred to Gurugram as they live here. We were expecting a better response but most of the workers wanted to stick to their parent states to vote,” the official said, adding that most migrants do not want to miss out on being part of the political process in their home state, and the subsequent benefits available there.
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As far as complaint redressal is concerned, Gurugram has recorded a 99.97% score. The district, however, lags in the gender electoral ratio, coming 11th out of 21 districts in the state.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
Abhishek Behl is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Gurugram bureau. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he reports on Gurugram's rapid urban transformation, covering the city's changing infrastructure, governance, and planning landscape. His reporting spans major civic agencies, such as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Behl has reported on key urban development issues such as RRTS projects, metro expansion, road and highway projects, water supply, drainage, mobility, environmental concerns, land use planning, affordable housing, and the city's real estate sector. He closely tracks policy decisions, infrastructure implementation, and their impact on the city and its residents. He also covers regulatory action against illegal constructions, urban flooding, traffic management, and initiatives aimed at improving civic services and sustainable development.
Behl has also written on political developments in south Haryana, focusing on elections and governance. His journalism is driven by fact-based reporting, ground-level coverage, and an understanding of the social and economic dynamics of Gurugram.
Apart from work he is a cyclist and a cricketer and a resident of Palam Vihar since 2010.
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