Mangaluru: Taking a cue from villagers at Kutlooru in Belthangady , who have threatened to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha election owing to neglect by the district administration in terms of providing basic amenities and development, villagers in the newly-formed Kadaba taluk too have followed suit.Some of them have even put up banners highlighting their demands, thus making their point clear, that they will participate in elections only if they see a ray of hope in terms of development in their villages, before the elections.Villagers from Badibagilu, Orumbalu and Lavatadka in Kadaba said they have been crying for an asphalted road since several years. They said around 100 households are affected throughout the year, due to waterlogging in the rainy season, which makes commuting in the area an uphill task, while mounds of dry soil in the summer also inconvenience residents.As several sets of memorandums and requests placed before officials, political leaders and gram sabhas have yielded no result, the villagers have decided to refrain from exercising their vote.“Come what may, we are not going to vote. We have taken a firm decision in this regard during a pre-cursor meet held specifically to discuss this issue on March 21,” said Sridhar Kampa, a village leader.As a mark of protest, these villagers had turned their backs on polls even during the assembly election last year. Ironically, 10 months down the line, all they have received are verbal assurances and nothing concrete on the ground.Residents of nearby Madyakda, too, have decided to boycott the election. Villagers here alleged that they have been deprived of access to basic amenities such as drains and power supply, apart from good roads.In a clear signal to the candidates in the fray that they stay away from campaigning in the village, the residents have put up a banner in which they have put forth three demands. Unlike the residents in Badibagilu, Orumbalu and Lavatadka, villagers in Madyadka said they will consider exercising their franchise only if they see officials taking a progressive step in this regard, in the next couple of weeks. “The village hasn’t seen any significant development in the last 25 years. Among our demands is also constant power supply so that our children can study at night and agricultural land is irrigated. The village doesn’t even have a proper drainage system. We also want our drinking water bills to be completely waived,” said Ashok Gowda from the village.Deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S said residents of at least three villages have spoken about their plight to him. “Officials have been visiting these villagers and persuading the villagers to vote. In the next 15 days, these officials will focus on addressing the grievances of the villagers,” he said.

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