86-year-old citizen in Bengaluru votes for 20th time; prefers visiting booth over doorstep voting
Bengaluru: Shivaramakrishna Shastri, an 86-year-old resident of CV Raman Nagar in the city, exercised his right to franchise for the 20th time in his life, visiting the polling booth at the DRDO Central University on Friday.
While he had the option of applying for doorstep voting, as provided by the Election Commission of India to voters aged 85 years and above as well as People with Disabilities (PwD), Shastri preferred to go up to the polling booth to cast vote. He came to the booth accompanied by his son and daughter-in-law on the occasion and was taken in a wheel chair by the policemen at the booth to cast his vote.
Many other voters found Shastri's spirit and resolution to not miss voting an inspirational gesture for all youngsters and new voters in the city to imbibe.
Shastri explaining why he preferred to visit the polling booth although he needed help, saying, "Voting is a citizen's right. Casting vote at home, by opting for doorstep voting, will not highlight the importance of the ballot. I always prefer coming to a polling booth and voting, for this joy of a special experience. I also take into consideration the fact that coming to a booth gives me an opportunity to meet other people. This is not possible if I vote from home."
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
