Nayagarh/Phulbani: Even as voters lined up before polling booths to cast votes, scores of villagers under different constituencies boycotted elections citing various reasons.
Villagers of Nati village under Malisahi panchayat of Nuagaon block in Daspalla Assembly constituency of Nayagarh district boycotted polls alleging lack of basic amenities like water and road communication besides other necessary facilities. As many as 588 villagers refrained from casting their votes.
Similarly, tension prevailed in front of booth no 79 in Dankangi village in Phulbani as locals staged a dharna demanding motorable roadways and a bridge to their village.
Moreover, over 600 villagers of four villages under Baliguda block in Kandhamal district refrained from casting their votes. Villagers of Gangeri, Dukamila, Palsimila, and Tangamar village boycotted the polls over lack of basic facilities.
“Despite so many years since Independence, our village does not have basic facilities like education, health and communication. Drinking water facilities is a major issue here. So, we have decided to not exercise our franchise,” a local said.
“During election, every politician comes seeking votes in the name of ‘development’. But, after the election, no one is seen anywhere close to us,” another added.
Voting was also boycotted in two booths in Loisingha. Similarly, voters of Babja and Jankaria villages also boycotted polls protesting the distant location of booths.
Unable to beat the heat, villagers of Babja and Jankaria boycotted polling in Loisingha area of Bolangir district as the booths were situated far away from their villages. Despite being under democracy and voting being their constitutional right, these aggrieved villagers boycotted voting.
Belmati Saha, a villager, said, “The booth is eight kilometers away. We cannot walk that far along with small children. On top of that, walking through the remote villages under scorching sun is very difficult.”
Another elderly man explained that the way to polling booth via Ratakandi village is more than eight kilometers.
“We want a booth in our village,” he demanded. In Nayagarh’s Daspalla area, Dakadol and Dhipamal villagers will also boycott polls demanding roads and bridges in the area. While every vote contributes to strengthening democratic fabric of India, these votes of Bolangir villagers going to waste has raised concerns across the state.
PNN