RWAs pledge to increase voter turnout

As candidates start filing in their nomination papers for the upcoming municipal corporation elections, residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) are also pushing their plans to begin awareness campaigns, aimed at increasing voter turnout. Rajat Arora reports.

As candidates start filing in their nomination papers for the upcoming municipal corporation elections, residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) are also pushing their plans to begin awareness campaigns, aimed at increasing voter turnout.

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On Monday, a few RWAs met the Delhi state election commissioner to seek approval on putting up posters and hoardings to take their awareness campaign to the common man.

Residents’ organisations are also seeking participation from the State Election Commission to make it a joint campaign between them. “We are working hard to ensure that the voter turnout increases this time, and we feel that the state election commission should accommodate the ideas of residents’ organisations,” said Rajiv Kakaria of the GK II RWA.

Together, residents’ organisations are drafting an elaborate campaign, including painting competitions, music shows and newsletters, to get Delhiites to the polling booths. The Delhi RWA will also start a joint voter awareness campaign from India Gate on March 25.

The state election commission, however, says that it can only permit campaigns aimed at increasing voter turnout, as there was always a chance of such campaigns turning political.