Sambalpur. A non-resident Indian (NRI) from Dubai travelled nearly 4,000 kms to Odisha to cast his vote in the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections held in the state on Saturday. Priyadarshi Panigrahi, son of former MP and Odisha minister Sriballav Panigrahi, has been living in Dubai, UAE since 2008. He travelled 20 hours from Dubai by flight to Kolkata, from there by train to Jharsuguda and then by road to Sambalpur to reach his polling booth to exercise his franchise.
He said, “I have a special connection with Sambalpur. I grew up here, my late father represented Sambalpur twice in the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1971 and 1974. So coming here and voting is also my way of paying tribute to my motherland and my father.” Priyadarshi Panigrahi said, “I see voting not only as a right but also as a responsibility. I firmly believe that every vote is important. It is our responsibility to participate in the election process, no matter where we live in the world.”
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He plans to return to Dubai on Sunday after spending just a day in Odisha. “My trip has drawn widespread attention to what it represents – the global reach of Indian democracy and the courageous commitment of its citizens, no matter where they live. If my trip encourages even one more person to vote, it will be meaningful,” the NRI said. His father Sriballav Panigrahi was India’s youngest cabinet minister at the age of 32 in the Nandini Satpathy government in 1973.
Tags: 2024 Lok Sabha Election, Lok Sabha Elections, odisha news, Odisha politics
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 25, 2024, 23:17 IST