Shimla, Feb. 1 -- The Tibetan community living in exile on Sunday participated in the first phase of elections to choose the Sikyong (President of the Central Tibetan Administration) and members of the 18th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, with the preservation of Tibetan identity, culture and unity emerging as the central concern.

Polling was held across the world, including in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, where the Central Tibetan Administration set up three polling booths at different locations to facilitate voting by Tibetans residing in the state.

Members of the community cast their votes not only to run the Tibetan government-in-exile, but also to strengthen the decades-long Tibetan freedom struggle.

Speaking to ANI, Tenzin, a candidate...