A lone voter carries torch of democracy in Junagadh's village

Banej (Gujarat), Mar 5 (ANI): A lone voter of Banej village is carrying the torch of democracy in Junagadh constituency of Gujarat.

Fifty-two-year-old Bharatdas Darshandas of Banej village, situated deep in the Gir forest, feels privileged to be the lone voter from the village which falls under the Una assembly segment of Junagadh constituency.

Darshandas who has been living in Banej for past ten years has exercised his franchise in the 2007 Gujarat assembly poll at a special polling booth set up at the hermitage where he lives.

" I have cast vote two times and this time too, I shall vote. Every time two policemen and four-five election officials come here. I go there and cast my vote," said Darshandas.

He seems happy to cast his vote but feels the government can take some concrete steps to develop the area where he resides.

Banej, 29 km from Junagadh, is a pilgrimage centre for the people of Junagadh and Una.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in five phases on April 16, 23, 30, May 7 and 13.

Counting of votes will take place on May 16.

The term of the 14th Lok Sabha ends on June 1, 2009, therefore the new Lok Sabha will have to be constituted by then. By Uday Adhvaryu(ANI)