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Pune: Madhavi Tikhe, who stepped into her 100th year a few months ago, did not want her age come in the way of keeping her tryst with democracy. The centenarian joined several other super senior citizens who stepped out to cast their votes across the city on Wednesday. Tikhe travelled to the polling booth at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Primary School near Shivaji Maharaj statue from her home in Kothrud with her family.
"I missed the deadline to submit the form for home voting, so I came to the booth," said Tikhe, who worked as a nurse before retiring. While citizens above the age of 85 had the option to vote from home, many chose to visit the polling stations instead. Among them was Suprabha Bhakre (92) who made her way to the polling booth at Vimannagar with her son.
"I read newspapers to find out what's happening in the world. I also asked my son about candidates standing in the elections to make an informed decision before exercising my franchise. It is my right to vote.
" Vasant Kulkarni (89), who arrived at Pashan polling station at 8 am with his son, said, "I have been voting ever since I turned 21. It is important to take part in the democratic process. As a bank manager, I lived in different cities and towns throughout my career, but every time there was an election, I did my duty and will continue doing so as long as I am alive," said Kulkarni.
Shankaramma Kamte (87) made her way to the polling booth in Camp at 11am, aided by her son. "The polling station is a five-minute walk from my home, and I like to come with my family to vote. In our family, stepping out to vote is as necessary as lighting diyas during Diwali or putting up the gudi during Gudi Padwa," she said.
At Bavdhan, the day started with no separate arrangements for senior citizens at a polling centre. After 9 am, when the senior citizens started arriving, the policemen on bandobast duty began giving them preference over others. However, people who were already standing in queue started objecting to it.
As a result, senior citizens had to wait in queue at some polling booths. Additional commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad police Vasant Pardeshi noticed it during his visit to the centre and instructed the cops to make a separate queue for senior citizens. (With inputs by Neha Madaan and Mihir Tansale).
