For nearly 10,000 voters in Cooch Behar, this election is the opportunity of a lifetime. Literally, despite having reached eligible voting age years ago, they are voting for the first time. 103-year-old Mohammed Asgar Ali has waited not just years but decades to vote for the first time in spite of being an Indian citizen all his life. Not just him, three generations from his family voted with him for the first time, creating history and possibly a record too.
After India and Bangladesh signed a land boundary agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka last year, residents of the enclaves (Chitmahal) are ecstatic about being able to vote.
A 55-year-old relative of Mr Ali said, “I feel like I am 18 today after being able to cast my vote. It feels great after being trapped all these years and not knowing where we belong in spite of being Indians.”
