Unresolved issues in Tamil Nadu threaten peasants’ boycott of the polls

The voting procedure went smoothly across the districts, although several people boycotted the polls because they were annoyed by the authorities’ lack of interest, inadequate facilities, and other problems.

 

Residents of Seethurani hamlet, Manamadurai assembly seat, boycotted the election in protest over inadequate drainage systems and roads. Tamilarsai, the Manamadurai MLA, tried in vain to persuade the people. Voters were persuaded by the district administration to cast their ballots after receiving assurances that they would investigate the matter.

Please shut the fertilizer company.

More than 2,000 voters in the Tirumangalam assembly segment’s Chennampatti and Peikulam villages in the Virudhunagar constituency boycotted the polls and staged a protest on Friday, calling for the permanent closure of a private fertilizer company that processes chicken waste and produces fertilizer in the area. The villagers claimed they had brought up the issue with the officials a few days prior and had even organized a protest, citing the impact of the wastewater discharged after treatment on waterbodies and groundwater in the nearby villages, including K Chennampatti, Avalsoorampatti, Kurayoor, Melapatti, Peikulam, and Odaipatti, as well as the stench emanating from the unit.

The villagers said that no action has been made despite the authorities’ promises to take action during peace negotiations, and they added that they would not vote until the corporation is shut. Subsequently, authorities met with the locals once again and decided to temporarily close the business while promising to call a meeting of the peace committee in the coming days. Because they didn’t trust the government, the villagers rejected and requested that the enterprise be shut down permanently. A few citizens from four villages cast ballots when the polls closed.

No amenities, no voting

In the Natham assembly constituency, around 300 people protested in Seeragampatti village in Ooralipatti panchayat, claiming that their elected legislators had failed to provide them with basic amenities and had chosen to abstain from voting. The locals said that for 20 years, politicians had made poll pledges to build roads, provide restrooms, and supply drinking water. None of the pledges were kept after the election. Enraged, the locals held demonstrations, flew black flags, and chanted anti-government and anti-election chants.

After being informed, the community was visited by law enforcement and administrative representatives, who appeased them before they cast their ballots. Similar to this, Palani’s second ward in the Aayakudi municipality abstained from voting. The authorities intervened, and the locals went back to voting.

Take action against those who abused our villager.

Residents of Saveriar Pattinam in Mudukulathur vowed to boycott the election unless someone took action against those who attacked their community. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Saveriar Pattinam villager said that a local politician from Mudukulathur and a group had just viciously attacked a villager who was an ex-army guy. The victim complained and was transferred to a hospital in Madurai with significant injuries, but nothing was done about the accused. There were no booth agents at a Saveriar Pattinam voting place till 11 a.m. Sub Collector Abhilasha Kour arrived at the scene as a result, calming the restless people. Once authorities gave their word, the villagers went out to vote once again.