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Lok Sabha election 2019: Villagers boycott polling in West Bengal’s Jhargram constituency over drinking water, road
This is the first time that voters of a booth have boycotted polls in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha election 2019. Ramchandrapur village, about 170km to the west of state capital Kolkata, has one booth that has 740 voters.
Residents of a village under West Bengal’s Jhargram constituency boycotted polls on Sunday over the lack of basic amenities as the eastern state and seven others went to polls in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election.
This is the first time that voters of a booth have boycotted polls in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha election 2019. Ramchandrapur village, about 170km to the west of state capital Kolkata, has one booth that has 740 voters.
The villagers said they locked the polling booth on Saturday and conveyed their decision to officials, who came to Ramchandrapur in the evening, that they will vote only after the road is repaired and supply of drinking water is ensured.
“There are big holes in the road (that is not metalled), and we can’t remember when was the last time the road was repaired. We also depend on wells for supply of drinking water,” alleged villager Dilip Patar.
“The supply of electricity is erratic too. We have long been demanding proper supply of water and electricity, and also that the road should be repaired,” another villager Sabita Mahato said.
On Saturday, Jhargram’s block development officer Avighna Chakraborty visited the village along with police officers and promised that their problems would be solved.
“We have talked with the villagers after they slapped posters conveying their decision to boycott votes. We have told them that we cannot carry out any work now since elections are going on. We will take necessary steps after the polls are over,” said the BDO.
But the villagers were unmoved.
“We are facing the problems for a long time, and the government and the local administration have given only assurances,” said a villager.
Along with Jhargram, the other constituencies where polling is being held in this phase are Tamluk, Kanthi, Ghatal, Medinipur, Bankura, Bishnupur and Purulia. The remaining nine seats of the 42 constituencies in the state will votes on May 19, the last phase. Counting will be held on May 23.
