Shyam Saran Negi, a 103-year-old voter who first exercised his voting right in the year 1951 is all set to cast at the same polling booth at village Kalpa for the 32nd time.
The administration of the area has made all the arrangements for bringing him from his home to the polling booth located nearby at the primary school. Also, the doctors have been attending the old man on a regular basis to keep a check on his health.
The primary school known as “Pratham Prathmik Vidyalaya” where the polling booth is located and was established as the booth in the year 1890 will be hosting a red carpet welcome for Negi who is an icon as he voted for the first time in the same booth in 1951 after the independence.
Since that time Negi has voted in 16 Lok Sabha Elections and will be doing it for the 17th time this year. He has voted in the 13 assemblies and two territorial council elections.
“This is a matter of pride for us that Shyam Saran Negi will vote. We have made all arrangements for taking him to the polling booth for the vote. Also, doctors visit him regularly to keep a check on his health,” said Gopal Chand, District Collector, Kinnaur.
The seventh and final phase on May 19 will cover 13 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all 13 in Punjab, nine in West Bengal, eight each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and the lone seat of Chandigarh. A total of 918 candidates are in the fray to test their destiny in the last phase.
