Bihar bypolls: Senior citizens & first-time voters throng polling booths

Patna: Voters from all age groups turned up in large numbers at the polling booths to exercise their franchise in Muzaffarpur’s Kurhani assembly constituency where byelection was held on Monday amid tight security.
BJP candidate Kedar Prasad Gupta, who cast his vote at a polling booth, said, “I can see that it is a clear win for BJP. People have seen our work from 2015 to 2020.For the last two years, people of Kurhani have not seen any development in the area and now, they want change. The candidates of Grand Alliance (GA) and other parties are mafias and they only make fake promises,” Gupta said.
JD(U) nominee Manoj Kushwaha also claimed victory. “BJP cannot win the election from this seat. The GA is getting support from cross sections of voters,” he added.
Meanwhile, braving all odds, senior citizens and persons with disabilities also exercised their franchise. They were helped by their family members and police personnel.
For Mayawati Devi (95) of Chadhua panchayat, voting is like a festival, which she never missed in her life. “I have asked all my family members and relatives to exercise their franchise. The electoral process has become quite convenient and the officers on duty helped me,” she said.
Accompanied by his family members, 105-year-old Deepa Manjhi, who limped towards polling station 103 by holding a bamboo stick, said, “I have voted for the candidate who worked for us.” The centenarian arrived at the polling booth without a valid ID proof. When security personnel turned him away, he went home and returned back with ID proof to cast his vote, much to the surprise of everyone.
Malti Devi, who recently met an accident, came to the polling booth with the support of her husband and son.
The excitement among the first-time voters was palpable. Many college students thronged polling stations to exercise their franchise. Saket Kumar (19), an engineering student, said youths should actively take part in political debates and try to understand their leaders. “It is very important to cast vote for the right person,” he said.
Sakshi Kirti (20) of Ladaura panchayat, said, “I want change and people of Kurhani have voted for change. People want development in this constituency.”