Amethi follows tradition: Washerman casts first vote
Wednesday February 15, 2012 03:12:43 PM,
IANS
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Amethi: Better known
as the family bastion of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi,
Amethi follows a unique tradition -- polling began at the Ram
Nagar Primary School centre Wednesday only after the local 'dhobi'
(washerman) cast his vote.
While the polling centre opened at 7 a.m. sharp, everyone waited
for 72-year-old Pancham Lal, who is accorded a 'VIP' status on all
polling days in what was once upon a time a princely state.
His wife Chandra Kala too remains the privileged one to cast her
vote just after the husband.
"I have enjoyed this privilege ever since I was entitled to vote
many many years ago," Pancham Lal told media persons.
Even Amethi's erstwhile prince and now Sultanpur Congress MP
Sanjay Singh made it a point to give way to the 'dhobi'. But of
course, Sanjay Singh and his wife Amita Singh remained right
behind the washerman to keep up the tradition.
Amethi remains a prestige issue for the Congress, which has held
the seat for decades.
Late prime minister Indira Gandhi's son Sanjay Gandhi was the
first to contest from here in 1975 and 1977, followed by his
brother Rajiv Gandhi in 1981.
Soon after Rajiv's death, it was his pilot friend Satish Sharma
who held the baton from here, but shortly thereafter, Rajiv's
widow Sonia Gandhi got elected from here. Later, she handed the
constituency over to her son Rahul Gandhi in 2002.
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