Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter of independent India passed away on Saturday at the age of 106 at his native place in Kinnaur. He had cast his vote for the 34th time on November 2 for the Himachal assembly polls.
Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur Abid Hussain said Negi would be cremated with full honours at his village in Kalpa. He had always shown interest in taking part in the exercise to cast his vote in every election despite his frail health.
In 1951, Negi was a member of the polling team and vividly remembers that he cast his first vote in Shonthong polling station and his polling party had to trek long distances to conduct polling in Purvani – Ribba – Moarang – Nesong over a period of 10 days.“Youth should come forward to participate in the democratic process as it is not only our right but also our duty to participate in the elections by exercising our franchise,” he had said after casting his postal vote on November 2.
