While the first phase of J&K assembly election is underway, people have turned up in good numbers to cast their votes. 24 Assembly constituencies across districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian are voting in the first elections in the Union Territory in a decade.
People have queued up at polling stations since morning, their spirit of voting is commendable. One such voter who has garnered the attention is 96-year-old Pandit Shanti Prakash of Gatha village who showed up at the polling booth to cast his vote. He is the eldest voter of 51- Bhadarwah consituency in Doda district. He refused the home voting facility and opted for physical voting by visiting the 45-Gatha polling station.
Speaking to DD News, Prakash said, the polling officials had come to his house, but he refused to cast the vote as he believed he could go to the polling station by himself. Booth level officer Qaiser Hayat Khan also appreciated his spirit and called it an inspiration for people to come out of their home and vote. Qaiser also said that we need to learn from people like Pandit Shanti Prakash and exercise our right to vote.
Pandit Shanti Prakash is truly an example of a responsible citizen who has exercised his fundamental right. His participation strengthens the festival of democracy. His enthusiasm to visit polling station to cast his vote at this age is inspirational.
