At the polling station, Negi would receive a grand welcome.Post-independence, when parliamentary polls were being held in the country for the first time, the EC had advanced the voting in Kinnaur, keeping in mind harsh winters and early snowfall. The EC had then carried the election material to Chini (now Kalpa) village polling station, located in a primary school, on mules. "He is an inspiration to others as he has never missed the chance to vote" said Surma Devi his daughter-in-law. Though Virbhadra had contested and won the 2012 assembly elections from Shimla rural seat, he has left that seat this time for his son and state Congress chief Vikramditya and shifted to a new constituency-Arki, in Solan district. Arki was a Congress stronghold once but returned the BJP candidates to the assembly in last two elections.

Source: Times of India October 29, 2017 00:09 UTC