PUBLIC ANGER RISES AMID ELECTION FEVER, CALLS FOR BOYCOTT

PUBLIC ANGER RISES AMID ELECTION FEVER, CALLS FOR BOYCOTT

14-OCT-ENG 8

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Amid the election atmosphere, villagers in Nawadaben village raised slogans calling for a boycott of the vote, citing three-point demands. They say they will not vote for any candidate unless their problems are resolved.

In Nawadaben village, under the Sandesh Assembly constituency of Bhojpur district, villagers' anger has surfaced amid the election atmosphere. Accusing the government and public representatives of neglect in the name of development, the villagers staged a massive protest over their three-point demands. They took to the streets, chanting "boycott the vote" and clearly stating that they will not vote for any candidate until their problems are resolved.

The villagers' main demands include repairing the village's dilapidated road, improving drainage, and constructing a footover bridge at the Karisath railway station. The villagers say that no public representative or official has paid attention to these basic problems for a long time. The roads in Nawada Ben village are broken at many places, and drain water flows onto the roads, causing difficulties for people to commute. The situation worsens during the rainy season.

Villager Hanuman Prasad explained that the railway underpass remains flooded for four to five months, cutting off the village from other areas. Schoolchildren, patients, and working people face immense difficulties daily. The lack of a foot overbridge at Karisath Railway Station leads to frequent accidents. Despite repeated complaints to the railway administration, no concrete action has been taken.

95-year-old Baliram Mishra said that leaders have repeatedly made assurances, but each time the promises remain unfulfilled. Now that the Bihar Assembly elections are near, villagers have warned that if work on their demands is not initiated before the elections, they will abstain from voting, will not allow any candidate to campaign in the village, and will boycott the vote.