NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradeshs oldest voter Shyam Saran Negi, 97, who has witnessed the shaping of democracy over almost seven decades, will exercise his franchise yet again in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh. Independent Indias first voter, Negi has fathered 10 children. Four of his sons and five daughters are married, while one son is dead. The elderly couple stays by themselves in their wooden house amidst apple orchards. Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath in 2012 had identified Negi as the oldest voter. Negi, who retired from a government primary school in 1975, was among the first to cast his vote in the first Lok Sabha elections in October 1951 in the Chini constituency - later renamed Kinnaur. The senior citizen wants no Indian citizen to miss out on their basic right to vote. He was quoted by indiatimes as saying, Voters should exercise their right to franchise and hand over the reins of the government to an honest leader who can end corruption and check price rise. My eyesight is failing, my body is frail, but I know how to use an EVM (electronic voting machines). I also sign on the electoral roll on my own, he added. At that time, election in snow-bound region was held ahead of other places in the state and the country. Negi is popular among the locals, mainly apple growers, as Master-ji. (With inputs from IANS)
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:52:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015