1,100 voters more than 100 years old in Himachal Pradesh, 68 made Election Commission brand ambassadors
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the commission had appointed Shyam Saran Negi, not only one of the oldest voters in the state, but was also the first voter of independent India, as its brand ambassador.
In a bid to draw maximum number of senior citizens to polling booths in Himachal Pradesh, the election commission has decided to rope in 68 voters, who are more than 100 years old as brand ambassadors.
Of the 51, 59,000 registered voters in the state, 1,011 are more than 100 years old.
“The election commission has decided to rope in voters who are more than 100 years old to promote voting among senior citizens in the hill state,” said chief electoral officer Devesh Kumar.
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the commission had appointed Shyam Saran Negi, not only one of the oldest voters in the state, but was also the first voter of independent India, as its brand ambassador.
However, considering his age, the election commission this time has dropped Negi from the list of brand ambassadors for the upcoming elections.
In the country’s first-ever general elections in October 1951, Negi made history when he voted in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, becoming independent India’s first voter.
In 2010, then chief election commissioner Navin Chawla travelled to Kinnaur to felicitate Negi, who has voted 16 times in Lok Sabha polls and 13 times in state assembly elections.
An election commission official said Negi was not keeping good health. “We will provide a special vehicle and roll out a red carpet to welcome Negi when he turns up to cast his vote in Kalpa this time,” said the official.
Hamirpur has maximum 125 voters who are more than 100 years old, followed by 122 in Mandi, 103 in Una, 85 in Bilaspur, 75 in Shimla, 73 in Chamba, 53 in Sirmaur, 41 in Solan, 25 in Kullu and six in Kinnaur.