Shimla: The first voter of India 106-year-old Shyam Negi died at his residence in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday. He had cast his vote for the state’s assembly polls through postal ballot on November 2, sources in the Election Commission said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in the Sundarnagar area of Mandi district, said that he had learnt about the death of Shyam Saran Negi when he was about to leave from New Delhi in the morning. The 106-year-old Negi had voted more than 30 times in his life, Modi said.
A few days ago, Negi cast his vote through a postal ballot, Modi said, adding that even before his demise, he discharged his duty. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur took to twitter to mourn the death of Negi. He said, “I am pained to learn about the passing away of India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi.” Chief electoral officer of Himachal Pradesh Maneesh Garg said that Negi was also the brand ambassador for the Election Commission.
Member of Parliament from Wayanad in Kerala Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on Bharat Jodo Yatra, wrote: “The demise of India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi is a sad news. He has seen the country take its first breath in a free sky and held on to the strings of democracy till his last breath. Negi will always remind us of our obligation towards the nation.” Congress’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge also condoled the death of Negi. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Negi gave a unique example of his duty towards democracy by voting in every election. The Bharatiya Janata Party also condoled the death of Negi.
