India's first voter, 100-year old, gets a special vehicle to cast ballot

File photo

Shimla: He is 100-year-old now; finds it difficult to walk. So ahead of Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections the Kinnaur district administration has decided to provide a special vehicle to Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter of independent India.

Negi will be escorted to the polling booth where he is expected to receive a grand welcome. Following the voting procedure, Negi will also be dropped back home.

According to his family, the 100-year-old has never missed his opportunity of casting votes.

A retired school teacher Negi, became popular after Google created a video as part of its 'Pledge to Vote' campaign. The video went viral during 2014 Lok Sabha Elections.

Shyam Saran Negi became the first voter of the country when elections were held for the first time in independent India. It was conducted on October 25, 1951, in Kinnaur in two phases.

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections will be held on November 9. The counting of votes, however, will take place on December 18.

The Model Code of Conduct came into force in Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect after the announcement.

The term of the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Assembly comes to an end on January 7, 2018.