As the Panchayat election date in Odisha is drawing closer, candidates in the fray are trying their level best to woo voters. But there are some voters in the remotest pockets of the State who have already made a point not to get tricked by the politicians and their hoax promises any longer.
With anger in their belly, these voters have decided to stay off from the Panchayat elections.
Karanjasahi village, which was earlier under Chhelabada Panchayat under R Udayagiri Block in Gajapati district, now falls under Dabaraguda Panchayat. The village was separated from Chhelabada Panchayat and added to Dabaraguda Panchayat in 2016.
The residents of Karanjasahi village have since been experiencing problems. Basically, they have to trek a long distance to reach the Panchayat office. Therefore they have long been demanding to get the village back under Chhelabada Panchayat. Since the administration is paying no heed to their demand, they have decided to boycott the polls.
“If our village is not put under Chhelabada Panchayat, we would continue to boycott every election,” said an agitated villager.
Similarly, the residents of Pakatmunda village of Bam Panchayat under Kankadahada Block in Dhenkanal district have also pledged to abstain from voting. They recently assembled at the village temple to take a vow to boycott the election. The village is inhabited by over 100 tribal families. These families said they would not cast vote as long as their road connectivity issue was not solved.
“We are at the end of our tether. Due to lack of road communication and mobile network, we are facing problems. Since the political leaders or the administration is taking steps to end our sufferings, we have decided not to take part in the voting,” a villager rued.
Likewise, the residents of Padapadar village of Jalahanjar Panchayat under Lamataput Block in Koraput district have taken a vow not to participate in the election. They alleged they don’t have access to potable drinking water and are devoid of a road. They face hassles when they need to shift any patient or pregnant woman to the nearby hospitals, they said.
This is the reason why they have decided to boycott the election. “The political leaders have been giving us what they know the best-assurances. This time though, they can’t fool us. We will exercise our voting right only when our problems are solved,” said a villager.
The condition of the people living in Phundaguda village of Giriligumma Panchayat under Dasamantapur Block in Koraput district is no better either. Surrounded by hills and jungles, these villagers have long been asking for mobile connectivity. They alleged they had already taken up the mobile network issue with the local MLA, district Collector and block development officer (BDO), but to no avail.
They said, “No tower, no power...no vote”