Residents of Kattingeri village in the Kapu assembly segment of the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency have unanimously decided to boycott the upcoming elections in protest against the inadequate civic amenities in their locality.
The villagers, part of Moodubelle Gram Panchayat, have declared their refusal to participate in any future electoral processes, including the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, until their demands for improved infrastructure are addressed.
Kattingeri has been grappling with a lack of essential amenities such as roads, bridges, and functional public transport connectivity, prompting the villagers to take this drastic step.
Despite previous engagements with authorities, including visits by deputy commissioners, the villagers have seen little progress in resolving their grievances and addressing the infrastructure issues.
Former President of Belle Gram Panchayat, Shivaji S Suvarna, highlighted the significant voter base in Kattingeri, estimating around a thousand eligible voters who have actively participated in past elections. However, the absence of basic infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, has remained unresolved for the past six years.
Former Taluk Panchayat President, Devdas Hebbar, emphasized the villagers’ unwavering resolve in boycotting the elections until their demands are met, despite previous instances where boycotts were rescinded due to assurances from elected representatives.
Ranjani Hegde, another former President of Belle Gram Panchayat, informed PTI of the villagers’ non-negotiable stance, stating that they would only participate in the elections if roadworks are completed and bus services to Kattingeri are resumed.
Expressing disillusionment with local MLAs and MPs, Hegde mentioned efforts to draw attention to their issues through correspondence with the District Election Officer and the State Election Commission regarding the boycott.
