Assam's most prominent voter fails to vote
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The Prime Minister who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha is a voter at the Dispur Assembly constituency located in the heart of Guwahati.
Mr Singh's name figures in serial number 720 in the voters list at polling station number 155 located at Dispur Government Higher Secondary School.
Locals here were disappointed with the Prime Minister failing to exercise his democratic rights. "We were hoping to vote along with our Prime Minister, but were a little disappointed as he did not turn up," said M Saikia, a middle-aged voter.
"The Prime Minister was here yesterday and the day before asking people to vote, but he himself is not here to cast his ballot," people at polling station number 155 told reporters, pointing to Mr Singh's name on the list.
"He should have been here. He is a voter from this constituency. Did he get his name included in the voter list here only to get himself elected to the Rajya Sabha," asked voter Babul Das.
"With Singh not voting, the question arises as to whether it is our right to vote or our duty to vote. It seems it is only common people's duty to vote and not of Prime Minister's," said Aruna Kalita, who had braved the rains to cast her vote.
Mr Singh who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam in 1991 had voted at this polling station in the 1998 General Elections. However he has
not voted in any of the Assembly elections so far from his home constituency after he made Assam his permanent address.
An election official said there was no application from the Prime Minister to exercise his electoral rights under clause 20(4) of the Peoples Representatives Act, 1950. There are special provisions under this Act for people like the President, Prime Minister, ministers and governors to exercise their franchise through postal ballot.
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