Groom votes in Manali, ‘baratis’ follow suit

Shimla, May 19

Faced with the onerous responsibility of choosing his MP and life-partner the same day, a Manali resident on Sunday refused to shy away from either and fulfilled both with aplomb.

Before proceeding to his bride’s village for marriage, Anil (28) of Kothi village near Manali, led his entire ‘barat’ to the polling booth in the city and cast his vote, besides making his wedding companions to do the same.

Decked in his wedding attire, Anil reached the polling booth to a pleasant surprise of election officials. Officials said as the groom, while awaiting his turn, faced some murmurs over possible delay in reaching the wedding venue in the neighbouring Palchan village for the marriage, but the groom stressed the importance of voters’ participation in the democratic process. PTI