Gujarat elections 2012: Polling booth for lone voter at Banej

Junagarh: The Election Commission values the importance of every vote and to prove that, they have created a full-fledged polling booth at Banej inside the Gir National Park in Gujarat.

The temple priest of Banej, Bharatdas, is the lone voter inside the forest and he will exercising his vote in the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly election on December 13. "This polling booth of Banej is situated inside the Gir forest and this polling booth has been constructed for the lone voter of Banej, the temple priest, Bharatdas. The forest department maintains the booth and it is around 55 kilometers from our office in Una. Our polling party goes to the booth and we have provided all the services so that Bharatdas can cast his vote with ease," said the collector of Banej, Manish Bharadwaj. The polling station figured on Gujarat`s map for the first time in 2007 for logistical reasons, when Bharatdas began exercising his franchise. This will be third election in Gujarat when he would be casting his vote. "I am very proud that nowhere in the country, like there is only one Prime Minister or one President, I am the only one for whom this polling booth has been constructed. It shows how valuable one vote is. Hence, the people of this country should realise the value of their vote," said Bharatdas. The first phase of the Gujarat assembly polls will take place on December 13, while the second will be held on December 17. Counting of votes will take place on December 20. ANI