Electorates decision: No water, no vote

Residents of Kathotia village in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh have boycotted the elections on Monday due to the acute water shortage. The residents alleged that the village was battling acute water woes since long and the authorities had failed to resolve the crisis.

Umaria: Facing acute water shortage, residents of Kathotia village in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh boycotted the elections in the state on April 29, courtesy water shortage.

Reportedly, not a single vote has been cast in the polling booth no.83 of Kathotia village since Monday morning. The residents alleged that the village is battling acute water woes since long and the authorities have failed to resolve the crisis.

Expressing their ordeal, villagers said that they have approached the district administration several times but all the demands till now have fallen to deaf ears.

Meanwhile, administrative staff, including SDM and Tehsildar, are trying to convince the villagers. However, the latter demand an immediate decision to be taken regarding their problems.

Voting is being held in the state's six Lok Sabha seats - Sidhi, Shahdol, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat and Chhindwara - and by-election to Chhindwara Assembly constituency, where Chief Minister Kamal Nath is in the fray.