A woman won a local election in India almost two weeks after her death as supporters kept their pledge to back her in a sign of respect, officials said.
Ashiya Bi polled at nearly 44 percent in the race for a municipal civic body seat in Indiaโs most populous state of Uttar Pradesh this month and was declared victorious posthumously.
The popular 30-year-old first-time candidate fell ill, reportedly from an acute lung and abdominal infection, and died just 12 days before the poll.
Her husband informed election officials, but district officer Bhagwan Sharan told AFP on Tuesday that there was no procedure in place to remove her name from the ballot.
โOnce the electoral process begins, it cannot be halted or paused,โ 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.
โAshiya made friends easily and people didnโt want to break the promise of support they gave her and hence the result,โ local resident Mohammad Zakir told the Times of India daily.
Her husband Muntazim Qureishi said Bi had โwon hearts with her calm demeanourโ.
โOur votes are a tribute to her,โ the paper quoted another voter, Arif, as saying.
Personal, familial and community loyalties often play a decisive role in Indiaโs at-times colourful and chaotic elections.
