The Diplomat Desk
Jammu, (TDD): Members of the Valmiki and Gorkha communities expressed joy after casting their votes for the first time in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections today
Post abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, these communities, along with West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs), became eligible to participate in the electoral process.
The atmosphere in the Valmiki Colony in Gandhi Nagar and Gorkha Bast in Bahu Fort was vibrant, with a large number of first-time voters eagerly lining up to exercise their franchise.
For the first time in 67 years, the Valmiki and Gorkha communities gained the right to vote and access professional courses. Approximately 6,500 members of Valmiki families and around 900 Gorkha families are now eligible to cast ballots in Jammu. Previously, these communities lacked domicile rights and were excluded from various opportunities, including voting in assembly elections.
Garoo Bhati, president of the Valmiki community, described the feeling of voting as inexpressible. “I cast my first vote at the age of 45, and I can’t put my feelings into words,” he said. “We were previously deprived of this democratic right, but now we are hopeful that the coming government will do justice for the Valmiki community.”
Another voter, Eklavya, said: “Our parents were denied voting rights by successive governments in the past. Now we have been empowered by the Constitution of India to exercise our rights. We are eagerly looking forward to participating in the festival of democracy by choosing our public representatives.”
Swarn Singh, a first-time voter from the Gorkha community, also expressed his happiness. Displaying his inked finger, he said that the feeling of voting is unmatched and comes with great responsibility.
The Gorkha community celebrated their first vote with a lively procession, arriving at the polling booth accompanied by a band and traditional drums to honor the occasion.
According to official sources, over 39.18 lakh voters will be exercising their right to vote across 40 assembly segments. The Election Commission of India has deployed more than 20,000 polling staff across seven districts in Jammu & Kashmir—(TDD)
