BMC polls: Elderly parents vote to fulfil dead son’s wish

Mumbai: Parel resident Hansabai Kakade (89) on Tuesday cast her vote at Bhoiwada to fulfil the dying wish of her son who passed away in 2012 at the age of 35. Ms Kakade’s son, an activist-cum-aspiring politician who succumbed to tuberculosis, had asked his parents to ensure that members of their family exercised their right to vote like good citizens in all elections.

Ms Kakade and her husband, Ravan Jyotirao Kakade (91), have been voting every year since to respect their son’s last wish.

Sunita Kakade, widow of the deceased, said that her husband was the last of the seven Kakade siblings and the only son at that and hence, received unparalleled love and affection from his parents and six sisters. “My father-in-law is a former policeman and strict disciplinarian. He is of the belief that every citizen should do his duty and only then can the nation progress. These traits were imbibed by my husband and he always encouraged people to do their bit towards the nation by exercising their constitutional duties,” said Sunita. She added that her husband had reiterated the same while on his deathbed and her in-laws were simply fulfilling his wishes.

On her part, Ms Kakade said that despite her age, she would fulfil her son’s wish till the time she could. “He was only 35 years’ old but was very keen that everyone carry out their electoral duty. Both me and my husband are fulfilling his wish and will continue doing so. I exhort the younger generation to be more responsible and carry out their duty by exercising their franchise during elections,” she said.