Over 600 tribal voters from a secluded village in Dhalai district, within the Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, chose to abstain from participating in the polls on Friday due to the persistently dilapidated condition of a crucial 7-kilometer village road.
According to an election official, despite comprising around 900 individuals, these villagers have consistently advocated for road repairs over the past few months, underscoring its vital significance to their community.
"As per schedule, the polling team reached Sadai Mohan Para polling station under Raima Valley Assembly constituency in Tripura East Lok Sabha seat," the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Gandacherra (Raima Valley), Arindam Das said.
The villagers are standing outside the polling booth but not entering it to cast their votes as they are protesting against government apathy, the official said.
"We are hopeful the villagers will join the festival of democracy, and the administration will look into their demands seriously", he said.
The villagers have also complained about the drinking water problem, Das said, adding that after getting the report, a team of officials rushed to Sadai Mohan Para to persuade the voters to exercise their democratic rights.
"I heard voters of two polling booths, one at Maldapara (Sadai Moha Para) in Dhalai district and another at Ampi in Gumati district, are not going to cast their votes as their demand for road and water supply has not been addressed. Officials have gone there to persuade the villagers to cast their vote in the elections," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath told the media.
"Apart from two incidents, the polling was moderate and peaceful in all the booths so far. The CPI(M) has failed to send polling agents to the booths. It seems it is fleeing the battleground," Nath added.
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