CEC flies down to Kinnaur to pay last respects to Shyam Saran Negi, independent India’s first voter

Shyam Negi cast his vote for the last time in his life on November 2 in the ongoing Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. He never missed an opportunity to cast his vote in the last 70 years!

@prashanthamine

New Delhi: What more could anyone ask for in life, as in a rare gesture Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Election Commission of India (ECI), Rajiv Kumar on Saturday flew down to Kalpa village in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh to pay his respects to independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi (106 years old!) who passed away early in the morning.

Barely three days ago Negi had cast his ballot in the on-going assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh on November 2. He was one of the oldest and the first voter in the history of independent India, who had never missed a single opportunity to cast his vote in all the elections held since independence. Late Shyam Negi had exercised his franchise 33 times in the last 70 years.

CEC Rajiv Kumar expressed his deep condolences on the demise of Shyam Saran Negi, Himachal’s pride and Independent India’s first voter. In a rare gesture and mark of gratitude for Negi’s democratic values, ethos and contribution, CEC Rajiv Kumar reached Kalpa, native village of Shyam Negi in Kinnaur district today to meet the bereaved family in person and paid floral tributes.

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While paying homage to Negi’s exemplary spirit & faith in democracy, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that “Shri Negi has been regularly casting his ballot for the last 70 years. Even before his demise, he fulfilled his noble duty by casting his vote using the postal ballot facility on November 2. The dedication and commitment towards fulfilling one’s duty should serve as an example for young voters. The true tribute to late Shyam Negi would be that the voters take part in the voting and strengthen democracy.” CEC urged all the voters in Himachal Pradesh to cast their vote on November 12 as a tribute to late Shyam Saran Negi.

Late Shyam Saran Negi was cremated with full state honours with the District Collector of Kinnaur making all the necessary arrangements.

According to his close family members, late Shyam Negi had returned the form 12-D to the Election Returning Officer (ERO) and insisted that he wanted to come to the polling booth and cast his vote in person. But in the meanwhile, his health suddenly deteriorated and the ERO had to come down to his residence in his native Kalpa village in Kinnaur district in November to record his postal ballot.

Born on July 1, 1917 in erstwhile Chinni and now Kalpa village, Negi cast his first ballot in the first elections in independent India held in 1951-52. Thereafter, he never missed a single occasion to cast his vote. Before his demise, Negi was thrilled to have received a letter of gratitude from CEC Rajiv Kumar. The CEC had written a letter of gratitude to all the centenarian voters across the country to mark the occasion of International Day of Older Persons. According to his family members, Negi felt jovial reading the letter and encouraged youngsters in the family to cast their vote for active participation in the festival of democracy.