Chennai, April 18: With the Phase 2 polling recorded 33.52 per cent in Tamil Nadu till 12 pm on Thursday, a historic moment was witnessed in Chennai where the inmates of the Institute of Mental Health voted in the polling booth set up at the centre by Chennai Corporation electoral officers.

This is the first time, that the inmates exercised their democratic rights in Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and as per reports, around 60 inmates voted for the first time. All the inmates came in batches and patiently waited for their turn, reports The New Indian Express. Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Phase 2 Voting Underway for Parliamentary Constituencies And Assembly Bypolls; P Chidambaram, Rajinikanth Among First Voters. 

Expressing his excitement, a 55-year-old inmate said, as the daily quotes, "It's my democratic right. I am voting after 10 years. As a citizen, I feel I have a responsibility to choose our Prime Minister. I am so excited to do it in the institute campus itself, thanks to Chennai Corporation officials and Disability Rights Alliance and the institute, who took efforts to make sure we exercised our right."

Similar was the opinion of another 55-year-old inmate, who said that they lost their prominent leaders, but have a responsibility to choose who is their next choice. He was seen happy to have cast his vote after a gap of seven years. The booth falls under Chennai Central constituency where former DMK Union minister Dayanidhi Maran is contesting.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 18, 2019 01:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).