Bhubaneswar: Amid the hot and humid conditions, several elderly voters, defying physical limitations, turned up to exercise their franchise during the final-phase elections to 6 Lok Sabha and 42 Vidhan Sabha segments under them in Odisha on Saturday.
Among them was former minister Surendranath Nayak. He arrived in a car and was then carried to a booth at Kakatpur on a wheeler.
Palpable enthusiasm among elderly women was also seen at polling booths Nimapada. NCC guides and helpers were on hand to assist these senior citizens, as they adapted with the crowd and heat, ensuring that their voices were heard in the democratic process.
When approached by local reporters, one elderly woman said, “We wish to vote for those who can maintain peace and harmony in the nation.” Her sentiment was echoed by another senior citizen, who cryptically remarked, “The ones who are supposed to get, will get the votes.”
A middle-aged passerby, who stopped to observe the scene, added his two cents, “The ones who are sitting at the top thinking about the country are the rightful owners of the vote. Others who come asking shall not get any.”
Another 88-year-old humbled citizen at Bhograi in Balasore district proudly claimed, “I have given my vote of my own free will”. She added that she felt satisfied for having contributed to the welfare of the nation.
With heightened democratic spirit, a specially-abled citizen was also seen being wheeled into the polling station by poll officials at Nimapada.
In Baripada, a cancer patient braved the scorching heat and physical discomfort to reach the polling station. He told reporters that he had recently undergone surgery and was under treatment. “It is an important event and it is my right and duty to cast the vote,” he said.
Odisha saw a voter turnout of 37.64 per cent by 1 pm with Balasore recording the highest polling of 40.71%, followed by Mayurbjanj (40.09%), Jagatsinghpur (38.82%), Bhadrak (36.64%), Kendrapada (35.84%) and Jajpur (33.96%).
