The last phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections in the districts of Mandi and Kullu, which concluded at 6 pm on Sunday, saw thousands of persons with disabilities, centenarians and even a bridegroom come to cast their vote.
When Shadi Devi, the oldest woman of village Shakti under Banjar constituency of district Kullu, arrived to cast her vote, she was welcomed and honoured with a colourful scarf by polling staff at the booth.
Two other centenarians – 105-year-old Shamsher Kapoor at Upper Sultanpur area booth of Kullu town and 102-year-old Tulaki Devi at the Badah polling booth of Kullu district - also cast their votes.
At the Katrain polling booth under Manali area of district Kullu, differently abled men and women cast their vote. Notably, 2,267 handicapped voters are registered in Kullu district, and it is reported that all of them cast their vote, which is a record achievement of the district administration.
Kullu deputy commissioner-cum-election officer Yunus said that wheelchairs and other requisite items were provided to the handicapped and elderly people as per their requirement.
Yunus said that a bridegroom, too, delayed his journey to cast his vote at the polling booth No 8 of Manali area, despite pressure from his relatives to ditch voting because he was getting late in reaching his bride-to-be’s home for the wedding ceremony.
{{/usCountry}}Yunus said that a bridegroom, too, delayed his journey to cast his vote at the polling booth No 8 of Manali area, despite pressure from his relatives to ditch voting because he was getting late in reaching his bride-to-be’s home for the wedding ceremony.
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In rural areas of district Mandi, arrangements were made by the district administration to provide drinking water and shelter from the sun or sudden rain.
Mandi deputy commissioner-cum-election officer Rugved Thakur said the polling process had been completed in peace without an untoward incident in the district.