At 102, this Himachal voter is all set to vote again!

SHIMLA: At the age of 102, Shyam Saran Negi, who never missed a chance to tune to hear Prime Minister Narendra Mondi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, is all set to vote again.

A staunch believer in democracy, he wants other Indians too not to miss an opportunity to vote.

Negi has been appointed a brand ambassador by the state Election Commission for its SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) campaign.

An appeal would be issued soon on his behalf to the people to vote for the May 19 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Electoral Officer Gopal Chand told IANS.

Negi lives with his youngest son Chander Parkash in the picturesque village of Kalpa in Kinnaur district, some 275 km from the state capital.

The centenarian, who lost his wife at the age of 80 years in 2014, said it is important to vote.

Negi, who is hard of hearing, will turn 103 on July 1. He likes to listen to radio.

He is survived by three sons and five daughters and has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He lost his eldest son in 2002.

According to Parkash, his father does his routine chores on his own and has good vision.

A team of election officials called on Negi last week to know his well-being.

Retired as a junior basic teacher from a government school in 1975, Negi was among the first to vote in independent India's first Lok Sabha battle in 1951 in Chini constituency - later renamed Kinnaur.

At that time, balloting in the snow-bound area was held ahead of other places in the state and the country.

IANS