Malawali village residents threaten to boycott MC elections over shifting of polling booths

Perturbed over the shifting of polling booths from their village and discrepancies in electoral rolls for the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections, the residents of Malawali village here have threatened to boycott the elections.

The residents stated that their village Malawali falls in ward number 2 of the Municipal Corporation. Earlier, two booths (208 and 209) were set up for polling of votes in villages Malawali and Tabowali, they stated.

The residents alleged that for the upcoming elections, the booths have been shifted out of their village which would pose a problem for the elderly who may find it difficult to exercise their franchise. The residents further alleged that some votes from their booth have also been shifted to another ward to benefit a local leader of the ruling party.

Advocate Kuljeet Singh Malawali said, “The shifting of the booths to another place which is over two kilometers away and transfer of around 350 votes to another ward is a result of internal fighting in the ruling party.” However, the residents would have to pay the price for it as the village has been divided into two wards and after the elections, none of the councillors would be interested in the development of the village as a unit.

Amarjit Singh Malawali from the village said, “Though our village was included in MC limits around three decades ago, it still has unpaved streets and problem in outflow of sewage and rainwater.” He said that they would boycott the elections and demanded that their village be converted into a panchayat.

Another resident Sandeep Singh said, “The villages which have their own panchayats are better than our village. We are suffering since our village was added to the Municipal Corporation.” He said that they have also written to the Deputy Commissioner and other officials regarding their problem.