Officials persuade angry villagers to cast votes

Kothagudem: The residents of many thandas and villages in Kothagudem district boycotted election on Thursday but later cast their votes after assurance from officials to solve their problems.

District Collector Rajat Kumar Saini visited Lachagudem, Madaras thanda and Gangaram village on Thursday and spoke to the residents. He promised to concede of issuing pattas for podu lands and asked to participate in the election.

He said voting in election was a democratic right and one must not stay away from voting. Similarly, officials concerned persuaded Garimellapadu farmers to withdraw poll boycott and promised to resolve their problems. Chunchupalli tahsildar Nagubai gave a written undertaking to the farmers to address their demand for regular employment.

The voters at Mogullapalli in Cherlamandal took part in the elections after an assurance by local officials to lay roads in the village. Voters at Sonia Nagar, Pichaiah Banjar, Ramaswamy Gumpu near Paloncha stayed away from voting as polling centre was set up eight kilometres away from their habitations.