Adi F Sadar, an 86-year-old resident of Byculla’s Rustom Baug,has not missed a single election -be it general, assembly or corporation election.
“My father once told me, never miss your right to vote,“ says the retired photographer.Sadar is also prompt to announce that he had been a Congress loyalist until the last general elections, when he decided to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“I voted for Narendra Modi because I was extremely impressed with his development plan. I deeply feel that this man will do well for the country,“ said Sadar, adding that in 1951, when he voted for the Congress for the first time, it was Indira Gandhi who impressed him.
“I made up my mind to be on the side of Congress because of Gandhi. She had once visited a relative when I happened to see her talk and interact with others.It left an impression,“ he said.
Sadar feels the candidates were different in the old days.“Back then, politicians had a will to do something for the people and the land. Today it is all about the money,“ he said, adding the campaigns too were different.“The candidates would burst crackers to announce their arrival in the area and then interact with people. Today, it is all about posters and hardly any personal interaction,“ he said.
In the 2009 general elections, Sadar did not find his name in the voting list. It was not only he who panicked but his neighbours, friends and relatives came together to put up a fight for him and ensure that he gets to vote.“Finally my name was traced in a wrong list but I did get to vote,“ he said.