First timers, elderly among eager voters
PRAYAGRAJ : Elderly, women and enthusiastic first-timers eager to use their suffrage could be seen in large numbers at polling stations across Prayagraj district which went to polls in the fifth phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections on Sunday.
Many a youth also took photographs at selfie points set up at many polling centres. Many aged voters who had difficulties in travelling to polling booths were helped by their kin. Varisha Ali, 20, turned up to vote for first time at the polling centre set up at Arya Kanya Degree College. Accompanied by her father Saquib Ali, Varisha said she voted for a change and strong government in the state.
Pratima Singh, 23, of Baihrana area and her friend Komal Singh 21, also exercised their franchise for the first time at Mahila Seva Sadan polling centre. “We are enthusiastic over using our voting rights for the first time. We hope that our vote will help in development of the state and strengthening democracy” they said. Aged 19, Armish Siddiqui of Kareli is preparing for NEET examination. Armish was accompanied by her father at polling centre at Lekhpal Training Centre in Kareli.
“I am voting for better health services and increase in number of seats at medical colleges,” she said. Sisters Zeenat and Zainab, Pankhuri Srivastava and Tanya Srivastava were also among the first-time voters. “We voted for safety of women and helping in making a strong government,” they said.Aged voters too overcame age and ailments to turn up in large numbers to vote. Sajda Begum,over 80, said she never missed using her voting rights and this time too, she reached the polling centre to cast her vote.