Enclave dwellers to cast votes on May 5

For the first time in 68 years of Independence, enclave dwellers from Cooch Behar are going to cast their votes in the last phase of West Bengal Assembly elections on May 5. 

The villagers, who will exercise their democratic franchise, are excited as they would be taking part in the elections. 

But many of the villagers living in the enclaves still do not have any idea about an election and what is the significance of casting a vote. But the dream of those citizens, who were politically conscious of exercising electoral franchise, will come true as they are all set to participate in the world’s largest democracy.

Joy Prakash Burman, who will cast his vote for the first time in his life, said that this election was significant for us as we will be able take part in the election. Burman said after four generations, they finally got democratic right to cast their votes.

There are two septuagenarians who are currently living in the Haldibari settlement camp will also cast their votes. They were from Dahala Khagrabari in Bangladesh. 

Thanks to the exchange of enclaves which made this happen. Some villagers are saying that they will cast their votes in favour of those who had helped them to get citizenship of India. 

Around 51 enclaves were included into the Indian territories where there are 14,864 dwellers who have become the citizens of India. Among which nearly 10,000 people are voters. 

The people living in the enclaves transferred from Bangladesh are currently staying at the camps of Mekhligang, Dinhata and Haldibari. Various political parties have started their election campaigns to woo the voters.

The Election Commission of India had started the process of delimitations of constituencies in early March. 

The ECI had published draft delimitations order and initiated the process of conducting the elections in the enclaves transferred to India.