Koraput: As first phase of elections is underway in Odisha on Monday, residents of a village staged a protest outside a polling booth in Laxmipur of Odisha’s Koraput district threatening to boycott voting over lack of basic amenities in the area.
As per information from the area, the scene was witnessed outside booth No. 173 at Laxmipur under Narayanpatna block under Koraput Lok Sabha constituency.
Shortly after polling commenced in the morning, several villagers gathered outside the booth and staged a dharna alleging lack of basic facilities for the people in the area.
Instead of entering the polling booth, the protesters threatened to boycott the election alleging that they have been approaching the authorities and highlighting problems relating to drinking water, lack of proper road connectivity and other issues.
However, repeated requests by the villagers went unheeded and the people continue to face hardship, they claimed.
Following the incident, officials from the local administration and police reached the site and spoke to the protesters in an effort to pacify them and convince them to exercise their franchise.