Bhubaneswar, April 7 (IANS) Thousands of forest dwellers and tribals in Odisha have threatened to boycott the assembly and Lok Sabha polls to protest the government's apathy towards them, officials said Monday.
The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoists has also put up posters urging people to boycott the polls in four southern districts of Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Kandhamal where balloting will be held April 10.
At least 10,000 tribal voters in Kandhamal district have announced they will not vote this time because they have been deprived of basic facilities like roads, electricity, education, drinking water and health care, a senior district polling official told IANS.
These voters live in Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency and Phulbani assembly constituency area, he said.
Similarly, member of the Konda Reddy community who live in the state's Maoist-hit Malkangiri district have put up posters at various places announcing the boycott of the polls as the government is yet to give them tribal status.
"They have announced this by putting up posters in their region," District Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh told IANS.
Malkangiri will also go to polls April 10.
The Konda Reddy community also boycotted the polls in 2009 general elections, he said.
About 25,000 people of the community live in the state, while another lakh of them stay across the border in Andhra Pradesh where they are recognised as a tribal community.
An official with the state's election office said the concerned districts have been directed to create awareness among the voters so that they come out in large number and exercise their franchise.
Polling for 21 Lok Sabha seats from Odisha and the 147-member state assembly would be simultaneously held April 10 and 17.
While hosting more than twenty heads of state from across the world, the police and various secur
Former minister and NCP leader Baba Siddiqui was shot dead. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang took respon
Late on Tuesday night, terrorists targeted a joint check post of the army and police at Chhatraga
Kuwait imposes travel ban; Air India cancels flight
स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालयों और सरकारी अधिक
Amid the holy month of Ramadan, US President Donald Trump hosted the first Iftar Party at the Whi
Everyone is worried about the rising temperature of the world. Now a NASA scientist has warned th
Estimates of record electricity demand in summer, demand may go up to 2.29 lakh MW
With the growth of the manufacturing and service sector, the electricity demand is increasing con
On behalf of the Central Board of Secondary Education, the online registration process for class
Uber Cab Rape Case: Fingerprints Match, says Expert (Lead)
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) A forensic expert Friday told a court here that the fingerprints of the
Given the severe heat, Delhi's Deputy Governor VK Saxena has ordered paid leave for laborers and
