The Election Commission of India is making voting arrangement for the lone voter at Banej village situated deep inside the Gir Sanctuary, the only abode of Asiatic lions.
60-year-old Mahant Bharatdas Darshandas is the priest at Baneshwar temple at Banej village which is having historical connection with epic Mahabharata. The Gir-Somnath district administration will set up a polling station for Mahant.
“If the booth is no set for him, Mahant ji will have to travel 20 km that too on forest roads to exercise his franchise. As the temple is inside the world famous Gir Sanctury, the State forest department does not allow anyone to reside here. Being a priest, Mahant is having special permission to take care of the pilgrimage,” said an election staff deployed for setting a polling station near Banej.
The priest is taking care of the temple since past 15 years. He cast votes in 2007 and 2012 assembly polls as well as 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections. On the day of polling, just for him two policemen and five election officials pay visit to him inside the abode of Asiatic lions, so that the Mahant could cast his vote. The polling staff will reach sharp 8 am on December 9, 2017 there for the lone elector.
Even if the priest would cast his vote early in the morning, the staff to be deployed at Banej polling station will have to keep functioning till polling hours end at 5 pm in the evening as per the Election Commission’s rule! The polling station for the lone voter will be party of Una Assembly constituency.
As per the history associated with the place around 60 km from Mountain town Junagadh, Pandava during their exile passed through Gir Forest and when their mother Kunti became thirsty great archer Arjun released a bow to get water from the earth. Hence the name ‘Banej’ derived. Every year lakhs of tourist and pilgrims visits Banej, but they are no allowed for night halts.