New Delhi: To increase voter turnout in the upcoming Assembly polls, Delhi Election Commission has roped in Bollywood actor Soha Ali Khan, cricketer Virat Kohli and Toral Rasputra aka Anandi of Balika Vadhu-fame as its brand ambassadors for its multimedia campaign.
Moving on from its `Pappu can`t vote` campaign for 2008 polls, the DEC has launched a new campaign -- `Dil mein hai Dilli, vote karenge` -- focusing on youth and women voters.
Delhi`s Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev today unveiled the commission`s media campaign in a function.
He said the three ambassadors will be part of various print and electronic ads, besides road shows in the coming weeks and encourage citizens, especially youth and women, to come out and vote in the polls.
Khan attended the event, but Kohli and Rasputra could not make it, and they sent their messages through audio and video clippings respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Khan said, "It is really an opportunity for me to give back to the city. When it comes to something as important as voting, I think as the youngest member of my family, I equate the right to vote to many luxuries my parents and grandparents fought for that we take for granted.”
"I appeal to urban youth, with whom I relate being part of urban youth, to use their voting rights for the betterment of their city, to their country," she said.
In his message, Kohli said, "On the playground, it`s my bat which speaks and on election day, it will be my vote which will speak. Through Teeka Lagao campaign, I encouraged people to vote. This time, I will say with enthusiasm, dil me hai Dilli, vote karenge."
Rasputra, in her video message, urged women to come out of their homes and vote, saying, "It`s a great honour to be part of this campaign. When Election Commission approached me, I immediately agreed.”
"Anandi also wants the same thing that women assert their rights and through voting, show their strength. So on December 04, I, Anandi, say that you must come out of your home and vote," she said.
The number of first time voters has more than doubled from 98,000 during the municipal corporation polls in 2012 to over 3.6 lakh this year.
Moreover, for the first time in the electoral history of Delhi, gender ratio has crossed the mark of 800. The gender ratio has increased from 788 women per 1000 men to 804.
Khan also said, "I am proud of the youth of the city because we have seen, especially in the past couple of years that they do have an opinion and they do take to the streets and they do believe in things.
"What we want is for them to channelise their energy and engage in the democratic process and vote. Because when we don`t vote, we don`t have an opinion. Your opinion is represented by your vote. I urge all of you to come out and vote in large numbers," she said.
"I was born in Mumbai but moved to Delhi when I was very young and I did my schooling from Delhi. My family has always lived in Delhi and even today my mother and sister continue to live in Delhi. I am proud to call it my home, so when I am asked and invited to be part of the motivational campaign to encourage people to vote I was very excited and felt very honoured," the Bollywood actor said.
