FAZILKA: Protesting against government apathy towards its development needs, the entire Diwan Khera village in Fazilka district has decided to boycott the ensuing panchayat elections . The villagers have declared that they don’t want a panchayat. Diwan Khera has a populations of over 10,000 but 3,342 registered voters.What’s more, following the announcement, all 23 candidates who filed the nomination papers for the post of panchayat members withdrew their nomination papers to show solidarity with the fellow villagers. However, three three candidates did not respect the unanimous decision. In response, the villagers resolved not to vote in favour of any of them and to boycott the polling altogether.Explaining rationale behind the decision, the villagers said that they had requested the elected representatives, administration and other leaders to appoint adequate number of teachers in the government school here but in vain.Worried about their children’s bleak prospects in such a situation, they hired some private teachers by pooling funds. In addition, the villagers have been facing acute shortage of potable water. They were dependent on the water supply in the neighbouring Koyel Khera village.The three candidates who are still hopeful of getting elected said that contesting elections was their constitutional right and they can help the villagers to resolve all their demands only after getting elected to the panchayat of the village.Meanwhile, the move of the village has put the district administration and the state election commission in a fix and they are trying hard to convince the villagers to take part in the polling process.

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