Tamil Nadu: Due to the water supply being cut off to the Tiruchy neighborhood, residents are threatening to boycott the polls

On Wednesday night, a group of locals living on government property on Pattabiraman Road put up placards declaring their intention to boycott the general election. They were criticizing the city corporation for not restoring potable water service to the community, which was severed “two months ago.” Mayor Mu Anbalagan visited the protesting locals on Thursday morning, attempting to diffuse the situation by assuring all possible support, because the neighborhood is within his ward (Ward 27).

However, the neighbors questioned his motives and said he was only getting involved because of the banners they had put up. They were supported by a group of BJP activists who had earlier in the day declared their support for them. The mayor then departed the area, and a group of high-ranking revenue and company representatives arrived at the scene with the police. One of the demonstrators, Alexander (35), said, “This piece of government property has been inhabited by roughly 15 families for more than 60 years. Each of us has access to power, and we all pay corporate taxes on a regular basis. However, the company cut off our access to drinkable water around two months ago, citing nonpayment of water bills as the reason. In addition, we have not yet received Patta. Over the last two months, we have brought up these concerns with the firm, but they have chosen to disregard us. We have thus made the decision to abstain from the Lok Sabha election.

Another resident, Manikandan (age 22), said, “Officials came to the region only after we declared an electoral boycott. We need patta for the property, and the company has to bring this up with the state government and tax authorities.”

However, senior corporate executives rejected the residents’ assertions about their tax payments. “They haven’t paid the tax, so we turned off the water supply. “How can we respond to the residents’ and some BJP workers’ accusations of misusing the government system?” TNIE was asked by a senior corporation official who made an effort to hold talks with the demonstrating locals.

The demonstrators were given the assurance by the peace negotiations authorities that the matter will be discussed at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for June. They also promised that the water supply will be restored as a stopgap measure. The demonstrators then decided to reverse their plan to boycott the election. But, they vowed to protest once again if the council did not address the issue as they had promised.