Residents threaten to boycott poll

TUTICORIN: Residents of Lourde Ammalpuram in Tuticorin district have decided to boycott the ensuing assembly election in protest against the unannounced power cuts in their area over the last few weeks.
Lourde Ammalpuram comes under the 18th ward of Tuticorin Corporation and people here allege that they were experiencing power cuts during the nights for the past 15 days. "Power goes off at around 11pm and sometimes comes back only after 6am," said Mary, a resident. With the night temperatures soaring residents said the power cuts are only adding to their woes. They said that every household uses ceiling and table fans during the nights, to get some good sleep but the power cuts were making it difficult for everyone. "Children and elderly are suffering the most," said Pandi, a resident.
South zone secretary of Meenava Makkal Munnani, Ramesh said that representations to the electricity board in this regard had fallen on deaf ears. Hence, all of us have decided to boycott the ensuing election if the power situation does not improve by then, he added. tnn