Voters in two TN villages boycott polls

Chennai, May 8 : Voters in two villages, incluing a Dalit colony in Tamil Nadu, have boycotted the polling in protest against the lack of civic amenities.

While 1,113 voters at Makanyam village, falling under Sriperumbudur (Res) constituency in Kancheepuram district of the state, stayed away from voting, all 732 voters in Mugasaparur, a Dalit colony in Virudhachalam Assembly constituency in Cuddalore district, failed to turn up at the polling stations.

Makanyam Village is located in a forest area and the villgers have decided to boycott the polls to register their protest against the officials' ''apathy'' in conceding their demand of laying a road, linking their village with Padapai, leading to Tambaram.

Not even a single voter turned up at the polling stations, a report from Kancheepuram said adding, Village Panchayat President K Manoharan was holding talks with the authorities to resolve the issue.

He said the villagers have been demanding laying of the road since 2004 and had given several representations to the authorities. Last month also they led a delegation to the District Collector, but in vain, Mr Manoharan claimed.

At Mugasuparur Dalit Colony, the voters refused to cast their votes as no official visited them when some of the people were hospitalised after consuming contaminated water three days ago.

While Congress nominee D Yadodha is seeking re-election from Sriperumbudur, Actor-Politician Vijayakanth, making his debut, has locked horns with PMK nominee Govindasamy in Virudachalam.

UNI

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