Rae Bareli (UP), April 30: It may be the constituency of one of the most powerful women in the country, but residents of Goutaman Kheda village here on Thursday boycotted the vote protesting against the lack of development.
"Pul road nahin to vote nahin (No vote without bridge and road)," read a banner outside Goutaman Kheda village of Sarni in Rae Bareli, the traditional seat of Nehru-Gandhi family where Congress President Sonia Gandhi is seeking re-election for Lok Sabha.
Till 11 AM only three votes were cast in booth number 106 of Goutamankheda. The Presiding Officer of the booth Kameshwar Prasad Avasthi said the election agents of parties told him that voters are not happy with the development and hence not coming to vote.
"There is no approachable road to the village. The condition of electricity, water supply and road is bad. There are no jobs for our sons," a woman Ramrati said.
Other women accompanying her vowed not to vote even in Panchayat and Assembly elections.
In Amethi, where Sonia's son Rahul is contesting, voters had virtually boycotted the April 23 poll in Mamha village in Bahadurpur block. After the voting ended, Priyanka Gandhi, who led the campaign for her mother and brother, went to the village to hear their grievances.
Priyanka, however, had disapproved of the boycott, saying people should exercise their right to franchised as it was the power vested in them by the Constitution.
But Kheda residents said they had no other option. "The local MLA only gives assurances," said Ramrati.
Marriage of young girls here has become difficult, complained an elderly man. "People say they won't marry their sons in this village, which does not have even a road".
In Kanhamau village of Rae Bareli's Khiro block, too turout was dismal today as residents complained of non-development of the area.
Less than twenty votes were cast in the first four hours there.
Bureau Report, Zee News
"Pul road nahin to vote nahin (No vote without bridge and road)," read a banner outside Goutaman Kheda village of Sarni in Rae Bareli, the traditional seat of Nehru-Gandhi family where Congress President Sonia Gandhi is seeking re-election for Lok Sabha.
Till 11 AM only three votes were cast in booth number 106 of Goutamankheda. The Presiding Officer of the booth Kameshwar Prasad Avasthi said the election agents of parties told him that voters are not happy with the development and hence not coming to vote.
"There is no approachable road to the village. The condition of electricity, water supply and road is bad. There are no jobs for our sons," a woman Ramrati said.
Other women accompanying her vowed not to vote even in Panchayat and Assembly elections.
In Amethi, where Sonia's son Rahul is contesting, voters had virtually boycotted the April 23 poll in Mamha village in Bahadurpur block. After the voting ended, Priyanka Gandhi, who led the campaign for her mother and brother, went to the village to hear their grievances.
Priyanka, however, had disapproved of the boycott, saying people should exercise their right to franchised as it was the power vested in them by the Constitution.
But Kheda residents said they had no other option. "The local MLA only gives assurances," said Ramrati.
Marriage of young girls here has become difficult, complained an elderly man. "People say they won't marry their sons in this village, which does not have even a road".
In Kanhamau village of Rae Bareli's Khiro block, too turout was dismal today as residents complained of non-development of the area.
Less than twenty votes were cast in the first four hours there.
Bureau Report, Zee News
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