When world`s largest democracy completed it`s marathon run of parliamentary election 2009, a 1300 odd voters from Thiruvananthapuram constituency gone the other way. Just boycotting the election process. The voters are mainly from local Kani tribe, who are always in the receiving end, and the general public who are supporting the cause. The Thiruvananthapuram constituency had witnessed a high voltage election campaign as it got global attention just by the candidature of Shri. Shashi Tharoor, who served as the UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information.
All drama unfolded just a fortnight before the election as some posters and notice appeared all over tribal settlements. The kani tribes men are spread out in about 10 settlemments and are isolated from the rest of the world by Neyyar reservoir built for irrigation. The boycotters lead by some Kani youths accuse local politicians from CPM, CPI and congress for exploiting them for several decades in the name of development. They accuse forest depatment also as they always put constraints whenever tribals need any development. They abstained from voting in protest against what they described as government`s inability to connect their villages by motorable roads and bridges.
The Kanis are facing hardships since many decades. Earlier they were exploited by outsiders by all means for capturing their cultivable land, agricultural products and forest produce. Of late they are being exploited just for votes. Before this, every election hwhether it is a local body, assembly or parliament election politicians used to get tribal votes just by illicit liquor.
The kanis demand a bridge across the Neyyar water reservoir in Panthaplammoodu to connect them with Amboori. They have to trek several kilometers barefoot to reach before catching a boat to cross Neyyar water. They depend Amboori town for all purpose starting with selling their goods and buying everything. The village office, hospital, bank everything located in Amboori. They put blame on the panchayat officials for proper non-utilisation and corruption in the utilisation of tribal funds.
The participation of non-tribals in the agitation certify that the boycott was legitimate. Many tribals are enthusiastic and they assert that they will follow suit if one brdge is not constructed at the earliest in Panthaplamoodu. They say that official apathy towards develoment is costing them dearly. Even after affirmative action we see lot many tribal children being school drop-outs. The main issue is about road infra-strcture that connect them easily to amboori.
As the Trivandrum constituency is witnessing a quadrangular battle between BSP, Congress, Left front and BJP the margin of the result on 16th may will tell how effective was the election boycott of the marginalised section.
