Undeterred by advanced age and winter chill, quite a good number of senior citizens, including octogenarians and a few centenarians, dutifully exercised their franchise in the first few hours of polling at various polling booths in the district on Friday.
P. Lalithamma, a centenarian, and two physically challenged persons — Meera Bee and her son-in-law Shaik Saheb — were among those who cast vote in the very first hour of polling at the model polling station at the Government High School in NSP colony here.
Meera Bee and Shaik Saheb were received by young volunteers clad in white T-shirts bearing the Election Commission logo, and escorted to their designated polling booth in wheelchairs.
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Two more centenarians — Brahmaiah and Erraboina Odemma — exercised their franchise in Palair and Kothagudem constituencies respectively, sources said.
‘Never missed it’
Nizamabad Special Correspondent writes:
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Yanala Bhoodevi of Govindpet in Armoor constituency, 102, cast vote with the help of her progeny.
After arriving at the polling station in the car, she was taken to the booth by her grandchildren on their hands. She was said to have been casting vote in every election.
Gaguloth Desaiah Nayak, who was 65 years old, collapsed and died on the spot at the polling both immediately after casting vote at DB Tanda in Darpally mandal.
Polling process started late by 30 minutes at several polling stations in the old undivided district as technical snags developed in electronic voting machines.