India's First Voter Dies at 106

Shyam Saran casted his vote for the 34th time on November 2!

On Saturday, 05 November 2022, Independent India's first voter, the 106-year-old Shyam Saran Negi died at his native place in Himachal Pradesh's Kalpa, days after he cast his last vote in the 14th Assembly elections of the state.

Mr. Negi had cast his first vote in the independent country on October 23, 1951, in the Kalpa polling station, becoming the first voter in the country.

On November 2, he cast his vote for the 34th time this year which became his last, a feat that was acknowledged by PM Narendra Modi.

"This is commendable and should serve as an inspiration for the younger voters to take part in the elections and strengthen our democracy," PM Modi said in a tweet.

The 106-year-old had voted on November 2 through a postal ballot.

CM Jairam Thakur consoled Negi's death and said that the memory of the first voter of the country casting his last vote "will always be emotional".

"Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to Kinnaur.

While performing his duty, he cast his postal vote for the assembly elections for the 34th time on November 2, this memory will always be emotional for everyone," Thakur tweeted.

"May God bless his soul at his feet and give strength to the bereaved family members," he added.

Kinnaur Amandeep Garg, Deputy Commissioner of Kinnaur said that Mr. Negi will be cremated with full state honour.