Parajang: It was a nightmarish experience for an 85-year-old Sukumari Mallick, a resident of Parajang village under Parajang constituency in Dhenkanal district, when she was not allowed to cast her vote after waiting for more than four hours under the scorching sun.
Sukumari had decked herself well after getting up early in morning knowing that this may be the last time she would be able to cast her vote. She had a bath, wore a fresh saree and reached the polling booth at 7.00 am. Little did she know then that her trouble was about to start.
She patiently waited for her turn as the sun’s heat beat down on her. Around 11.00 am when her turn came, she trudged to the presiding officer only to be turned back.
“I was asked to wait outside. I waited for four hours from seven in the morning and then I was informed that I will not be able to cast my vote,” a disappointed Sukumari said with emotions choking her voice.
“I don’t know whether five years from now I will be able to vote again. I am very old; I don’t know whether I would survive till the next elections. Only God knows if I would have another chance,” added Sukumari.
According to her, the word ‘delete’ had been written against her name in the electoral list and hence she was not allowed to vote. She also could not explain properly what ‘delete’ meant.
Others, who were waiting to cast their votes, sympathised at her plight. “It was really a sad scene. The moment she got to know that she will not be able to vote, she developed a long face. We really feel sorry for her,” said one of the bystanders who had also come to cast her vote.
There were others who swore at the faulty process but they too were not able to help her.