Nearly two weeks after her passing, a woman in India won a municipal election because her followers stuck to their promise to support her as a mark of respect, according to officials.
In this month’s election for a seat on a municipal civic board in Uttar Pradesh, the state with the largest population in India, Ashiya Bi received close to 44 percent of the vote and was subsequently pronounced the winner.
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Popular 30-year-old first-time candidate passed away 12 days prior to the election after reportedly developing an acute lung and stomach infection.
However, district officer Bhagwan Sharan told AFP on Tuesday that there was no procedure in place to remove her name off the ballot despite her husband’s notification of election officials.
“Once the electoral process begins, it cannot be halted or paused,” Sharan said.
Before she passed away, Bi proved a major hit with voters, and many decided to cast their ballots for her anyway in a sign of respect and admiration.
“Ashiya made friends easily and people didn’t want to break the promise of support they gave her and hence the result,” local resident Mohammad Zakir told the Times of India daily.
Her husband Muntazim Qureishi said Bi had “won hearts with her calm demeanour.”
“Our votes are a tribute to her,” the paper quoted another voter, Arif, as saying.
Personal, familial and community loyalties often play a decisive role in India’s at-times colourful and chaotic elections.
