Shyam Saran Negi, 106, the first voter of independent India who cast his 34th vote for the forthcoming 14th Assembly elections of the state three days ago, passed away at his native place Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, his family said.

He will be cremated with full state honours, says Deputy Commissioner Abid Hussain Sadiq.

Negi cast his vote on Wednesday in the Kinnaur Assembly constituency.

Negi had cast his first vote in the independent country on October 23, 1951, in the Kalpa polling station, becoming the first voter in the country, and he cast his vote for the 34th time on November 2 this year which became his last, a feat that was acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “This is commendable and should serve as an inspiration for the younger voters to take part in the elections and strengthen our democracy,” PM Modi had tweeted.

The 106-year-old had voted on November 2 through a postal ballot.