India's first voter of Independent India, passed away at 106

Dharamsala, November 5, 2022: Chief Electoral Officer of Himachal, Maneesh Garg expressed his deep condolences on the demise of Shyam Saran Negi, (106) India's first voter of Independent India, who passed away at his residence in Kalpa in district Kinnaur early this morning.

In his condolence message the CEO said that Shyam Saran Negi, who was a state election icon had motivated generations of voters for exercising their right to franchise for strengthening the democratic set up.

He said that such was his commitment that he voted till the last breath of his life as he had cast his vote through postal ballot on 2nd November at his home in Kalpa.

“Negi was a noble human being and I pray to almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the family members to bear the irreparable loss”, said Garg.

He will be cremated with full state honours today.

Shyam Saran Negi, (1 July 1917- 5 November 2022) was a retired schoolteacher in Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, who cast the first vote in the 1951 general election in India, the nation's first election since the end of the British Rule in 1947. Although most of the polling for that first election took place in February 1952, Himachal Pradesh went to the polls five months early because the weather there tends to be inclement in February and March and heavy snowfall during that period would have made it impossible for citizens to reach the polling stations. Negi cast the first vote on October 25, 1951 and last on 3rd November 2022. He has voted in every general election since 1951.