Lok Sabha elections: In Bangla ex-enclave, a first-time voter at 80

DINHATA

: Even before polling began at a booth in Dakshin Lauchapra in

Cooch Behar

on Thursday, around 120 voters are already in queue — one of them is, Mansur Mian, who at 80 will be casting his vote for the first time in his life. Mansur, like most people in the queue, is a resident of one of the former enclaves in the district who have gathered to cast their votes for the first time.


“Amar baap-dada ja korte pare nai aaj tai hoilo (I have achieved what my father or grandfather could only dream of),” says the octogenarian who had spent his life as an enclave-dweller till India and

Bangladesh

ratified the exchange agreement in 2015. “It is the first vote of my life. What could be more satisfying for those who have spent their lives being marked as outsiders,” he said.

Ambalika

Roy, a second-year student of Dinhata College, was beaming with excitement. Growing up in the enclaves, she had seen polls being conducted from the other side of the border. “They used to drape the area with flex, banners and flags. Earthen walls were painted with the names of candidates. It looked like a festival. I would always wonder how would it feel if I were to experience it one day,” she said.

Roy, who was stateless even four years back, took part in the world’s largest election on Thursday.

The excitement was palpable in the villages even from the night before when the team of presiding officers and security personnel reached Dakshin Lauchapra.

“They had made arrangements for our dinner and refused to accept money. Rarely do we find such hospitable people while on poll duty,” said a polling staffer. “The excitement was evident and we could see people in queues from 6 am,” the officer added.