Shyam Saran Negi, India’s first voter, died on the morning of November 6 at his home in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. He was 106 years old. According to the Election Commission, Negi voted in the state Assembly elections via postal ballot on November 3. Everyone has sent condolences and sympathy messages to the family, from the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister to the Election Commission of India. Further, both the BJP and the Congress expressed their condolences to the Negi family.

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Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur expressed his sympathies on Twitter, saying that the fact that Negi exercised his right despite being in poor health will always make him emotional. After translating, his tweet read, “Received the sad news of the demise of Shyam Saran Negi ji, the first voter of independent India and who belonged to our Kinnaur district.

Praying to God that his virtuous soul rest in peace.

My deepest sympathies to the bereaved families.

Om Shanti!”

Election commission of India wrote on Twitter, ”

Not just first voter of Independent India,but a man with exceptional faith in #democracy.

ECI mourns the demise of Shri Shyam Saran Negi. We are eternally grateful for his service to the Nation.”

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Union Home Minister, Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi, “The death of Shyam Saran Negi ji of Himachal, the first voter of the country is sad. From the first election of the country till now, he has voted in all the elections. At the age of 106, his faith and commitment to the democratic processes of the country is an inspiration to all. May God rest his soul. Om Shanti.”

Mourning Negi’s demise, BJP’s Himachal unit said, “Bharatiya Janata Party Himachal Pradesh expresses deep sorrow and condolences on the death of Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter of independent India. May God grant peace and prosperity to the departed soul. Om Shanti”

Negi was a retired school teacher

Negi was a retired school teacher, and his death is a sad day for India’s democracy, the world’s largest. Shyam Saran Negi was born on July 1, 1917, at the peak of World War I. In 1951, he was 24 years old when he casted the first vote in Independent India’s first general election. Negi, the Election Commission of India’s brand ambassador, voted in all elections during his lifetime, including the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election two days before his death on November 3.