AMN
106 year Shyam Saran Negi casts his vote through ballot at Kalpa in Kinnaur district on Wednesday. He is a retired school teacher in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, who cast the first vote in the 1951 general election in India.
In poll bound state Himachal Pradesh,the first voter of Independent India, 106 year old Master Shyam Saran Negi who hails from the tribal district Kinnaur exercised his right to franchise for the 34th time for the 14th Vidhan Sabha Elections through postal ballot.
The process of voting through ballot paper has started from home for the elderly and differently-abled voters above 80 years of age in the state.
106 year old Master Shayam Saran Negi voted for the first time in 1951 in general elections of India and has voted for sixteen times in Lok Sabha Elections. He is also a state election icon since 2014.
A teacher by profession, the centenarian has voted in every election since 1951 and has never missed an opportunity to vote. Shyam Saran Negi cast his vote from his home for the first time,today in his life. Saran Negi has been unwell for the past few days. A red carpet arrangement was made at his home compound in kalpa by the district administration.
While speaking on the occasion Sham Saran Negi said , every citizen should vote for strengthening the democratic set up and specially the young voters should consider their duty to vote and contribute in strengthening the Nation. Negi further added that we should feel proud of our voting right as it helps in choosing a right representative to lead the Nation.
In the state for the first time, the Election Commission of India has given this special facility to this category of voters. The teams constituted for this are going door-to-door to complete the process of voting.