Shyam Saran Negi, the first voter in independent India, died at the age of 106 in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district.

Notably, Shyam Saran Negi died just two days after casting his postal ballot for the state assembly elections, according to Election Commission records.

“ECI mourns the demise of Shri Shyam Saran Negi. We are eternally grateful for his service to the nation, He inspired millions to vote, even before his demise, he voted for Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022 through postal ballot on November 2, 2022,” the Election Commission further wrote on Twitter.

Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, took to Twitter to express his grief over Negi’s death. “I am saddened to learn of the death of Shyam Saran Negi Ji, the first voter of independent India and a Kinnaur resident,” he wrote in Hindi.

“He cast his postal vote for the assembly elections on November 2 for the 34th time, this memory will always be emotional… May God give his virtuous soul a place at his feet and provide support to the bereaved family members. Om shanti,” Thakur added.

Shyam Saran Negi (born 1 July 1917) was a retired schoolteacher from Kalpa, Himachal Pradesh, who cast the first vote in India’s 1951 general election, the country’s first since British rule ended in 1947.

Negi studied at a public school in Kalpa till his 5th standard and later moved to Rampur to continue his higher education.