Monday, December 10, 2012

Gujarat Polls: Gir's only 'lion' roars loudest in elections

08-12-2012
Gujarat Polls: Gir's only 'lion' roars loudest in elections
Daily Bhaskar
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/GUJ-OTC-gujarat-polls-girs-only-lion-roars-loudest-in-elections-4104872-PHO.html?seq=1&HT4=

It is the sole home of Asiatic lions in Asia.
 
The world-famous majestic roar of Gir's lion is not the only attraction in the area.
 
Travelling through the heart of the Gir forest, you are likely to meet an 'Asiatic lion', who will roar the loudest during Gujarat's dance with democracy.
 
Mahant Bharatdas, who is Banej's only resident, is set to become, for a brief moment, the country's most pampered voter in the forthcoming assembly elections.
 
Bharatdas, 59, is a school dropout from Rajasthan who has lived as an ascetic in an ancient temple there for 15 years.
 
"This is the best possible example of how even a single voter is given importance and respect in the world's largest democracy," The NYT quotes Manish Bhardwaj, the chief election officer of Junagadh district, which includes Banej, as saying.
 
"Just like at every polling station, a presiding officer, two polling officers, a peon and an armed policeman will be on duty in Banej. They'll reach there a day before and stay overnight."

In the far-flung corners of India, which has a voting population of more than 700 million, there are a few constituencies with a mere handful of voters. But only Banej has just one.
 
Whenever there are elections in Gujarat, the district government sets up a special polling booth, with a full staff of five, just for Bharatdas.
 
Bharatdas voted in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary elections and in the state assembly polls in 2007, and said he is looking forward to doing so again on December 13. Voting is his "moral and national duty," he told NYT.
 
"I'm very happy that the authorities don't treat Banej, where I'm the only registered voter, differently and give it as much importance as any other polling station. It shows that even one vote is very important in a democratic election. I really feel honored."

2 comments:

SMS said...

Keshubhai will affect the votes of both Congress and BJP. It is however certain hat BJP will get the majority of seats in Saurashtra. Modi and BJP will definitely make a hat-trick by winning with absolute majority in the assembly.

SMS said...

Keshubhai will affect the votes of both Congress and BJP. It is however certain hat BJP will get the majority of seats in Saurashtra. Modi and BJP will definitely make a hat-trick by winning with absolute majority in the assembly.

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