Showing their (inked) fingers: Kolkata’s 1st-time voters make their moment count

Kolkata: A strong sense of political awareness and civic duty brought large numbers of first-time voters out of their daily routines and into queues at polling stations across the city on Wednesday. For many, it was not just about casting a vote but about participating in a process they had long heard about from elders.Those stories — often marked by tension and unrest — stood in contrast to what many experienced this time: a largely peaceful election under tight security. "I had to stand in queue for two hours to cast my vote. But the wait was worth it. Everything went off peacefully and it was a good experience," said Ranit Roy (19) of New Town.The excitement among teenagers was evident as they awaited the indelible ink marking their first vote. Social media reflected this enthusiasm, with posts of first-time voters travelling 800 to 1,500 km to return home and participate in the election.When Ritama Dhar (18) reached her polling station at Raipur Girls' High School on Wednesday morning, she was met with a long queue. That, however, could not dampen her spirits. "I got my turn to the EVM after waiting in the queue for one and a half hours. It was a great experience and I felt proud. The excitement is yet to sink in," said the Tollygunge voter.This election, however, felt different from the ones described by older generations. A heavy deployment of central forces ensured a calm atmosphere, a departure from the turbulent narratives many had grown up hearing.Amid concerns over SIR deletions, first-time voters appeared determined to make their voices count in deciding who forms the govt. Aaritrika Lahiri (19), a political science student from Southern Avenue, viewed voting as essential to upholding democratic values. "I have read about SIR and witnessed how people were put to the test in the past few months. I have also seen how teachers lost jobs due to corruption. But to ensure that democracy prevails, I had to choose one of the larger parties."First-time voter Dwaipayan Banerjee wrote on social media, "When the state machinery deleted the names of millions... we faced a choice between two paths. We could've boycotted the process or we could vote with those excluded people at the forefront of our minds, and make this election a referendum on this convoluted mass disenfranchisement... I've chosen the latter."
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