NDTV.com

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Dalits voting for the first time since independence


Election commission's role has been widely praised in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls this time.Tight security ensured that many marginalised sections came out and voted. This was perhaps best epitomised in Naukagaon, a Dalit village which voted on Tuesday for the first time since independence.Naukagaon is a Dalit village in Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. In the politically charged 15th Assembly elections in UP Naukagaon is at other end of the democratic spectrum. Not one of the Dalit villagers has ever voted in an election before.The upper castes from adjoining villages have forbidden them from voting, threatening them with dire consequences if they exercise their franchise.''The upper caste men used to threaten us. That's why we couldn't vote,'' said Dhani, a resident of Naukagaon.But this time the election commission, having spotted this anomaly, issued special instructions to the district magistrate and the SP of Ballia to ensure that these villagers voted.Democracy triumphedThe EC also set up a special polling booth for the villagers of Naukagaon. On Tuesday morning, before polling began, troublemakers were identified and dealt with.''We came here because we received complaints that no one from this village has ever voted,'' said Vijai Pratap, SP, Ballia.With the goons out of the way the authorities went about trying to convince villagers to come out and vote.It started with a trickle but before long the lanes in the village were empty and democracy triumphed.
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