Meet Doda centenarian who has never missed voting since 1951

Prem Nath of Paryote in Doda district of Jammu division, who will turn 100 in another six months, hasn’t skipped a date with the ballot since 1951 when the country’s first parliamentary elections were held.

His unwavering commitment to democracy was witnessed during the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as well as he, despite his advanced age and frail health, was among the first to turn up at the polling booth in his native place Paryote on Wednesday.

A testament to the power of electoral duty, Prem Nath says he has voted in every election since 1951, making him a symbol of dedication to democratic values in the remote region.

The centenarian arrived at the polling booth early in the morning to exercise his right, setting an inspiring example for voters of all ages. “I have never missed a chance to vote and I will continue as long as I am able… I am unable to speak much due to my advanced age… my only appeal is that all voters should come out to vote… we can make ourselves heard through the power of vote,” says Prem Nath, whose vote was cast at the 113 Paryote polling station.

Prem Nath’s video was posted by the Jammu & Kashmir PR Department’s Doda division on its X handle. The video was captioned as: “At 100+, Prem Nath of 113 Paryote casts his vote in Assembly Elections 2024, continuing his legacy of voting since 1951. A powerful reminder to exercise our democratic right!”

As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections kicked off on Wednesday, a voter turnout of 41.17 per cent was recorded by 1 pm, according to the Election Commission. Polling began at 7 am across 24 constituencies spread over seven districts, marking the first election in the Union Territory since the abrogation of Article 370.