TEAM HERALD
PONDA: In a rare show of strength, an estimated 400 voters from Caranjal in Parampai-Marcaim boycotted the ZP elections on Wednesday, after accusing the government of failing to remove the saline water from their Khazan fields since the last five years.
It was an unusual situation as the polling officials had very little workload, since only 250-odd voters from a total of 775 voters exercised their franchise.
The Parampai Booth No 26 at the Government Primary School consists of 775 voters, comprising voters from Parampai and Caranjal.
The agitating locals claimed that while all 400 voters from Caranjal had boycotted the polls, the remaining 250 voters who took part in the elections were from Parampai. Some others could not make it to the polls on account of other reasons.
The Caranjal villagers, however, claimed to have the support of voters from Parampai in their agitation.
The residents had served a two-day deadline before threatening to boycott the polls and the Ponda deputy collector had opened the sluice gates in a bid to address their problems.
The residents were, however, unhappy and claimed that authorities had failed to repair the bundh which had breached at many places.
As a result, the agitated locals decided to boycott the polls on Wednesday and a large number of residents gathered at the community hall to voice their protests and to boycott elections.
Marcaim village falls in Veling-Priol ZP constituency and it is likely to affect the outcome of both candidates, MGP’s Shivdas Gavde and independent candidate Premanand Gavde, who are locked in a direct fight from this constituency.
Speaking to media persons, villagers alleged that attempts were being made to submerge the fields and to convert them for fishing activities.
The residents have now threatened to boycott the next assembly elections, if authorities fail to resolve their problem.
