A polling station for 1 voter in Gir and it is not a lion

, Dec 8: The

(EC) is all prepared to set up a polling station at Banej inside the Gir forest sanctuary to cater to a single voter on Dec 13, the first phase of the crucial state

. The Gir is the last natural habitat of Asiatic Lions.

The Banej polling station came up for the first time during the 2007 polls for logistic reasons when Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas, the sole voter from the area, began casting his ballot. This will be the third occasion when Darshandas, 58, will exercise his franchise.

District election office sources said that a full fledged polling party would be sent to Banej, located 20 km inside the Gir sanctuary area, to help Darshandas to cast his vote. A booth would be set up at the forest department outpost in Banej and polling officials including a presiding officer, two polling officers, a peon and an armed policeman would be deputed, sources added.

Darshandas said he took great pride in being the only voter in the area. He said earlier about 85 people used to reside at Banej but they had left over the years and now he is the only voter left in the area.

OneIndia News