Archer Deepika Kumari turns up to cast her vote with 70 others

Archer Deepika Kumari did her best to encourage people to turn up and vote as she arrived to cast her vote in Ranchi on Thursday, reported TOI. Deepika had been training at the Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur preparing for the Archery World Cup leg to be held in Shanghai.

Deepika is, in fact, the brand ambassador of the state’s poll panel, and staying true to her role, turned up to the voting station with 70 other people who she managed to convince to come out and cast their vote. Deepika turned up at booth number 29 in Ratu Chatti, about 12 km from the city of Ranchi.

“She cast her vote around 7.15am and departed for Jamshedpur immediately,” said Shivnarayan Mahto, Deepika’s father, adding, “She came to Ranchi especially to cast her vote.”

Deepika Kumari also spoke to the media over phone after returning to Jamshedpur saying, “I arrived last night to cast my vote. I did this not only because I am the brand ambassador, but also because it is my democratic duty. I accompanied my family to booth number 29 and cast my vote at 7.10 am.”

And the archer’s move pleased the state election officials with Chief electoral officer P K Jajoria saying, “She is aware of her responsibilities as our brand ambassador and has lived up to it. We are happy that she has set an example for others.”

Along with Deepika, Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is also a brand ambassador of the State Election Commission, but was unable to vote due to him being in the UAE for the Indian Premier League. His family though – parents, brother and sister-in-law – all turned up to vote.