An NRI living in Dubai travels to Odisha to vote in the elections.

Sambalpur: On Saturday, amidst the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, a dedicated Non-Resident Indian made a remarkable journey from Dubai to exercise his vote. Priyadarshee Panigrahi, the son of former parliamentarian and Odisha minister Sriballav Panigrahi, has been residing in Dubai since 2008. However, his connection to his hometown of Sambalpur remains strong.

After a 20-hour journey via flight to Kolkata, followed by a train ride to Jharsuguda and finally a road trip to Sambalpur, Priyadarshee arrived at his polling station at 11:30 am. For him, voting is not just a right but also a responsibility. He believes that every vote counts and it is the duty of every citizen to participate in the electoral process, no matter where they reside in the world.

For Priyadarshee, voting in Sambalpur was also a way to pay homage to his motherland and his late father, who had represented the city twice in the Odisha Assembly in 1971 and 1974. Speaking about his journey, he said, "I have a special connection with Sambalpur. I grew up here and my father's legacy is deeply rooted in this place. It was my way of honoring him and showing my love for my hometown."

Despite spending only one day in Odisha, Priyadarshee plans to return to Dubai on Sunday. However, his journey has already attracted widespread attention, symbolizing the global reach of Indian democracy and the unwavering commitment of its citizens. He hopes that his journey will inspire others to exercise their right to vote.

At the age of 32, Priyadarshee's father became India's youngest cabinet minister in the Nandini Satpathy government in 1973. Following in his father's adventurous footsteps, Priyadarshee and his daughter Tisya are both avid scuba divers. They are one of the few father-daughter duos in India who have achieved advanced scuba diving certifications and have been making headlines for their unique underwater explorations.

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