People from Dashrath Purwa village in Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district did not cast their votes in the fourth phase of polling over the issue of stray cattle in the area.
Around 859 voters from the Dashrath Purwa village in the Naraini Assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh decided not to cast their vote over the issue of stray cattle. Naraini, which is one of the constituencies up for polls on Wednesday, is among the most backward districts in the country
Stray cattle is a significant electoral issue for the people of Uttar Pradesh, especially the farmers. Ever since the Yogi Adityanath-led government implemented strict rules over cow slaughter in the state, the adverse effect of stray cattle has been bothering the incumbent a big time, especially in the rural belts.
Udit Kumar (27), travelled to his village only to cast his vote. However, when he arrived, he found out that the elders had decided to boycott voting.
Speaking to India Today, Udit said, “It’s not that we don’t want to vote, but my father has spent sleepless nights guarding our produce, no one came to hear our problems”.
Fifty-eight-year-old Rama Shankar Tripathi said, “Since the last five years we have lost our produce. Only five people from our village are into government service, and the remaining all of us are dependent on agriculture. We have requested help multiple times from the village head, but once voting gets over no one comes to listen, therefore we have taken this step this time.
Meanwhile, the BLO of booth no. 58, Naraini Assembly Constituency said, “We tried to diffuse the anger, but they don’t want to listen. Till 2 pm, not a single vote has been cast.”
The fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh election is being conducted today. The counting of votes will be done on March 10.
manish kumar verma
