Paradip, April 17: He has never given a miss to exercise his voting right since the first general election in 1952.

Purussottam Nayak, 103, a freedom fighter, in the twilight of his life today stepped out of his house to cast vote at a polling booth in Kendrapara township.

“We fought in the struggle for Independence, and the British jailed me. As a citizen, it’s my duty to vote during elections. I have been doing it for the past 62 years. This could be my last vote, as I may not be alive to see the next elections,” Nayak said.

Nayak, who has turned partially immobile due to age, voted for the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats at the Kakat Mangala polling booth in the heart of the township.

He was among the first voters to turn up at the polling station.

“Voting is our constitutional right, so it should not be wasted. Democratic process has got degenerated. Money and muscle power dominate the polls. Still, things are moving towards better with electoral reform,” he said.