Delhi: Elderly voters lead in LS polls

The joy on the face of 82-year-old Beetaiyya Devi could not go unnoticed.

As she walked out of the polling booth in New Delhi aided by her son, her eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

"I have never missed any vote till now. Many wonder what change one vote will bring. But I know every single vote counts," she said.

Devi is one of the many elderly persons who turned up at polling stations across Delhi to exercise their franchise today, notwithstanding their physical limitations.

83-year-old Jagdish Sobti and his wife Sushan (75) said they consider voting as a part of their duty being citizens of a republic.

"I will vote till my last breath. It is our duty being a citizen of a republic to cast vote and help form a government," Sobti said.

78-year-old Trilok Singh and his 68-year-old wife Surinder Kaur spoke about their expectations from the next government.

"The new government must do something about price rise and corruption. There is no respite from ever increasing prices of essential commodities. Nobody has done anything about it," said Singh claiming that he has not got his pension for the last 15 months.

"We are utterly disappointed. We want the next government to change the status quo," said Kaur.

Apart from corruption and inflation, security of women and law and order were major concerns for many.

"There have been increasing incidents of rape here and across the country. We need a government which will bring strong laws so that people refrain from committing such crimes. Change is the need of the hour to make our country a safe abode for our daughters," said 85-year-old Bal Krishan who cast his vote from the New Delhi constituency.

"Come what may, I want to see a stable government at the centre. People are struggling due to price rise, corruption and job crisis," said Hari Lal (72).