A 102-year-old man came with his family of 40 members to cast vote in Lohgaon in Maharashtra’s Pune for the Maharashtra assembly elections.

Haji Abrahim Aleem Joad, who has served in the British Army took a private hospital took discharge and turned up at the polling booth along with 60 members of his family to exercise his vote.

Haji Ibrahim Joad, who spent the past four days in the Jehangir Hospital for a minor heart ailment, was declared “hale and hearty” by his doctors and discharged this afternoon.

“I have been voting since India has got independence, and I have seen a lot of changes. I was admitted to hospital for 4 days but today I’m here to cast my vote and I urge everyone to come forward and vote,” the senior citizen told media.

He further said, “Back then, we used to send letters but it was time-consuming. Today, due to digital media, everyone is accountable and this is the new India. The media also plays a vital role and I am proud to be part of it till the last end of my breath. I will my vote as it is my duty as I owe the rights under the Indian Constitution.”

A beaming Haji Joad told media persons outside the polling station that he has voted in every single election – civic, assembly and parliament, seen many governments come and go, and exhorted all the people to “vote without fail” as a duty and responsibility to the nation.

“He served three years in the British Indian Army till 1945, and after Independence he decided to make Pune his permanent home. He was engaged in his civil works business, which has now become ‘Joad Constructions’ which undertakes all kinds of civil works,” said Tanveer Joad.