Kalpa, located in the remote village of Kinuar district in Himachal Pradesh, won’t get to see India’s first voter cast his vote for the first time. There will be no red carpet reception for the VVIP voter, who also served as the brand ambassador of the Election Commission of India. Syam Saran Negi, who was India’s first voter and hails from Himachal Pradesh, won’t be voting in this election for the first time as the country enters the final phase of polling in states, including Himachal Pradesh. Syam Saran Negi, the octogenarian aged 106, who voted in all elections from the first general elections in the country, died on Nov.22, 2024, three days after casting his vote for the 34th time in the last Assembly elections. It was the last vote for the man who was 31 when India gained independence.
Negi had created history by becoming the first voter in independent India on October 23, 1951, when he cast his vote at the Kalpa polling station.
Popularly known as Master Shyam, he voted in the first Lok Sabha polls in the country conducted in January and February 1952. But, the polls in Himachal Pradesh were conducted in October 1951, keeping in mind the snowy weather conditions. Negi had participated in every Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha and local bodies elections since 1951 till his death.
