He Has Never Voted. But He Is Seeking Votes

For a 70-year-old who has never voted, it is quite audacious of Mrinal Kanti Debnath to seek votes. The doctor, who was working abroad since 1974 until he returned home a decade ago, admits he has never been to a polling station. But that hasn’t stopped him from contesting on a BJP ticket from Barasat, West Bengal. Predictably, rivals have questioned his commitment to democracy, but Debnath has his alibi. Long ago, he had tried to vote, but he found on reaching the booth that goons had already marked ballots on behalf of the entire ele­ctorate registered for that station.