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.
The heads of states of India, America, Japan, and Australia met in Tokyo between the Russia-Ukrai
Coronavirus Updates: Decline in Covid cases, 2539 people died of corona in 24 hours, 60 died
A day later, there has been a decline in the cases of Coronavirus in the country. The Ministry of
China is rapidly building a bridge over Pangong Lake, satellite image revealed
The standoff between India and China in eastern Ladakh does not seem to be diminishing. Tensions
By making the lotus bloom in nine out of the ten municipal corporations of the state, the urban v
Modi cabinet has taken a big decision for the farmers. The central government has decided not to
Cricketer Virat Kohli has won his first IPL trophy. He is being discussed everywhere. When Virat
Corona's havoc in UP and the poison caste from above
23-year-old Asadullah is now free from Corona but not due to social boycott. Last April, 23 peopl
The teams of Pakistan and Australia will face each other in the second semi-final of the T20 Worl
The fifth Kalvari class submarine of Project 75, Yard 11879, was handed over to the Navy today, t
Lok Sabha takes up bill to amend warehousing act
New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up for discussion the warehousing co
