Around a thousand voters across 3 villages in Gujarat boycotted the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday, with several other villages partially abstaining due to pending demands from the government.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Kesar village in Bharuch district, Sanadhara in Surat district, and Bhakhari in Banaskantha district completely refrained from voting. Additionally, voters in Bhatgam village in Junagadh district, and Bodoli and Kunjara villages in Mahisagar district partially boycotted the polls.
Sanadhara village, with 320 voters falling under the Bardoli Lok Sabha seat, saw no votes cast due to unresolved issues despite efforts by local authorities and political representatives to encourage participation.
Similarly, around 300 voters in Bakhri village, part of the Patan parliamentary constituency, collectively decided to boycott the polls in protest against the division of their gram panchayat. Despite persuasion from poll officials and BJP candidate Bharatsinh Dabhi, they remained resolute in their decision.
In Kesar village, Bharuch district, approximately 350 voters stood firm on their boycott decision, citing unfulfilled demands for a bridge construction over a river by the government.
This isn’t the first instance of voter boycotts in these villages, with locals expressing frustration over persistently unaddressed grievances.
The polling for 25 out of 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat took place in a single phase on Tuesday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinching the Surat seat uncontested.
