Deprived of amenities, people threaten to boycott poll

Coimbatore: As the election date nears, a growing number of residential pockets in Coimbatore are threatening to boycott poll to mark their protest against all political parties that have failed to look into their issues and demands, and address the same.

In some areas of the city, residents have hassled and beaten up ward councillors, who have sought votes for their party MLAs, and they were asked never to return.

The boycott call is getting louder among the residents of SIHS Colony, Podanur, Ondipudur and Siddhapudur housing unit, besides among the tribal community of Marudhamalai.

Over 200 residents of Bharat Nagar in Podanur have decided to boycott the May 16 assembly election after revenue (department) officials refused to initiate any action to hand over their patta land. They also plan to stage a hunger strike outside the district collector's office on Wednesday.

The residents said they were fed up with the growing corruption and wanted to register their protest. "Nobody from our area will cast our vote as we have lost faith in all parties," said Gunasekaran, a resident of Podanur.

The tribal community in Marudhamalai, meanwhile, expressed its growing discontent with the political parties by hoisting black flags. Its members said they would also boycott the election. "When I visited Marudhamalai, they were very angry as not a single political party has taken any initiative to provide them basic amenities. They said they did not even have toilets in their area. After I assured them help, they calmed down," said DMK candidate for north Coimbatore Meena Logu.

In Vadavalli, an AIADMK corporation councillor was chased out of her ward when she went to campaign there.

Over 216 families of a housing unit at Siddhapudur have also threatened to boycott polls. Pointing to the dilapidated building they live in, its residents said, "Most political parties have made many promises. A party said it would shift us to a different housing unit, while another party even promised us a new apartment block with a swimming pool and escalators," said Anand Kumar, a resident.

Similarly, around 100 residents of Ondipudur hoisted black flags and protested in front of east zone corporation. They said they would not cast their votes unless their demands were addressed.

Senior corporation officials have on their part tried to mollify the residents by convincing them that their issues could be addressed only after the election. "We are keeping a note of their grievances and after the election we would form a team to assess the ground realty and prepare estimates based on it," said a senior corporation official.