Kalpa (Himachal Pradesh), April 9 (IANS) He is a voter like none other. Shyam Saran Negi, 97, one of the oldest voters in India and a believer in democracy since 1951, has never abstained from voting and advises people to cast vote for "those candidates who can generate jobs and provide essential services".
Negi, whose musical video appeal posted by Google India under its Pledge To Vote campaign is quite a hit, said there is a seachange in the country's politics.
"We should vote only for those candidates who can generate jobs and provide basic essential services like clean drinking water, electricity, education, healthcare and infrastructure like good roads and public transport," Negi, who is settled in this picturesque village in Kinnaur district, told IANS Tuesday.
But Negi and his wife Hira Mani, 91, refuse to reveal to which party they are going to vote. "This is something personal. We have yet to make up our mind," say the elderly couple.
But throughout their life the couple have never abstained from voting.
"I have exercised my right to franchise in every election, be it general, state assembly or panchayat. One should not refrain from voting even if the weather is hostile or your health is not perfect. Now you have NOTA (None of the Above) option too," added Negi, eagerly awaiting the polling day in Himachal Pradesh May 7.
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 October 1951 in the 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.
Kalpa village is part of the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Kullu and Mandi and parts of Chamba and Shimla districts besides the tribal-dominated Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti. Their village is at an altitude of 10,000 feet and some 275 km from the state capital.
The Congress has pitted two-time MP Pratibha Singh, wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Ram Swaroop Sharma from the Mandi constituency.
Lying on a cot in his house, Negi said: "Today's politicians are sheer wasting precious time of Parliament by preferring to create ruckus inside the house. We should send only those people who can spare time for serious discussions in Parliament and have some vision besides his or her allegiance."
He is impressed with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
"Modi is not only a 'vikas purush' or a development-oriented man but also a 'loh purush' or an ironman," Negi told IANS.
He said in his personal opinion if Modi is voted to power he would steer the country towards development and get rid of corruption which has reached alarming proportions.
"From the first Lok Sabha election, to this one (16th), there is a tremendous development in the country. But the corruption is making the country hollow," he said.
"At this point in time we need a man with 'loh purush' qualities to eliminate corruption," he said.
IPL 2022: Chahal became the Indian bowler to take 150 wickets in the shortest innings in IPL, breaking the record of this legend
In the 20th match of IPL 2022, against Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bowled very well and took four wickets. With this four-wicket haul, he also completed 150
Surprised by rumours against land acquisition bill: Modi
New Delhi, March 22 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he was surprised by the rumours spread against the land acquisition bill.Addressing the country's farmers in his monthly radio
Pollard's 6 sixes overshadowed Dhananjay's hat-trick, a stunning West Indies victory in the first T20
Sri Lankan leg-spinner Aquila Dhananjay experienced tremendous ups and downs of T20 cricket in a single match on Wednesday.
Irony: Punjab is most affected by Corona, yet neither mask nor safe physical distance was shown in the demonstration
On Tuesday, Shiromani Akali Dal demonstrated outside the residence of CM Captain Amarinder Singh in Siswan in connection with the sale of corona vaccine to private hospitals. During this, hundreds of
Redmi 12C entry-level smartphone launched in India, starting price Rs 8,999
Redmi India has launched Redmi Note 12 4G and Redmi 12C in India. Both of these are 4G smartphones and the cost of both of them is less than Rs 15,000. There is a waterdrop notch display with Redmi
'Babita ji' reacted for the first time on the rumours of leaving TMKOC, shared the video, and told the truth
It has been 17 years since Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, but even today this comedy show is number one in the TRP charts. The craze of the show is still not over. Many actors have said goodbye to
CM Yogi's big decision: Names will have to be written on shops on the Kanwar route, and action will be taken on selling halal products
Chief Minister Yogi has taken a big step for the Kanwar pilgrims. Chief Minister Yogi said that the name and identity of the owner will have to be written on the food shops on the Kanwar routes across
RRR : 'I was sure... Natu Natu will win... This is not my arrogance...' Keeravani said on the stage Oscar
Naatu Naatu song from the RRR movie has created another history. The Oscar Award has come in its lap. MM Keeravani gave a speech on this occasion. He said, 'I have faith. Natu Natu has the power to
India-China Ladakh Meeting: India-China military commanders meet amid deadlock over LAC
New Delhi. India-China Ladakh Meeting, an important meeting between India and China is taking place today, amid tensions that have been brewing for nearly a month along the Line of Actual Control
Budget 2023: Railway Minister said - Hydrogen trains will start running this year, and construction is being done with indigenous technology
Railways are preparing to run hydrogen trains this year itself. Talking to the media after the budget, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that trains will be made world-class. Railways will try to
