Kathmandu(Pahichan) August 27 – They visit the village seeking votes during the election time. Some so called senior people of village claim that they some votes. They do not allow interacting with votes. Many voters do not know their candidates and cast their votes following the dictation of so-called senior people in society.

There is a group that captures voters while there is no group which is denied from voting as state has not provided them citizenship as per their gender identity. Neither have they talked about the identity.

Dalit activist Padam Sundas underlines the need of spreading awareness to tackle with the tendency of casting votes following the directives of so called senior people in the society. “Dalit, Madhesi, sexual and gender minorities are denied from citizenship,” Former Lawmaker Shambu Hajura Paswan said,” why the state is still hesitating to provide citizenship as per the identity ? “Due to the lack of citizenship many people still do not have land certificate.

“Due to the fight between parliamentary and non-parliamentary forces even the valuable suggestions are gathering dusts in CA, he said. Sundas and Paswan expressed such opinion inaugurating National Voting Rights Forum Nepal. This is the first such forum has been created for spreading awareness of voting rights of gender and sexual minorities. Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana, Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokhrel, Surya Prasad Shrestha, former commissioner Birendra Mishra and rights activists Pradeep Pokhrel said democracy will not be strengthen if voters are not strengthen. Chairman of Forum Bhakta Bisokarma said constitution that denies the rights of marginalized class, region and community would be unacceptable.

He said there is a need of creating awareness among gender and sexual minorities. Talking with Pahichan, Chairman of Blue Diamond Society Pinki Gurung said there is no basis to caste votes those leaders who concealed the suggestions provided by this community. “There are not any parties and a leader who speaks in favor us, we will launch a collective campaign to ensure the voting rights,” Gurung said.