Why India’s first voter, 101-year-old Negi from HP, believes Modi is the only leader to bring change

India's first voter, Shyam Saran Negi, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only leader who could bring change.

Shimla, Oct 26: The hill state of Himachal Pradesh is all geared up to elect its new Assembly during the state polls slated on November 9.

Every time an election is announced in the state, the first thing that comes to the mind of almost everyone is the face of 101-year-old Shyam Saran Negi, who holds the distinction of being the first Indian voter to exercise his/her democratic right during the 1951 General elections.

The 1951 elections were the first ones to be hosted in independent India after the British left the country in 1947. Although the majority of the election took place in February 1952, residents of Himachal Pradesh were given the chance to vote five months early because of the probability that heavy snowfall would make it impossible for citizens to reach the polling stations.

And, Negi, then as a 35-year-old young and enthusiastic man is believed to be the first person to cast his vote in the hill state. Since then Negi, a retired school teacher, has cast his vote in 16 Lok Sabha and 14 Assembly elections.

Now, he is once again gearing up to exercise his franchise in the upcoming Assembly polls. Negi, who lives in tribal Kalpa village of Kinnaur district, told News18 that everyone should vote, especially youngsters, for the country's growth. He added that he would love to vote once again if his health remains fine.

"You never know what might happen tomorrow," he says, adding, "sometimes even I don't know if I will see another day."

In an interview with The Tribune, Negi said that politicians should rise above caste, creed and regional politics and work without any bias. Negi added that after Mahatma Gandhi, Narendra Modi was the only leader who could change the country.

"I am the first voter of the independent India by default as the first elections in the tribal area were held in 1951," said 101-year-old Negi.

"I am impressed by the speeches of PM Modi. I believe after Mahatma Gandhi, he is the only leader who can bring about a change," he added.

He stated that a good and strong leader at the Centre could improve the functioning of state governments.

OneIndia News