With just a week remaining for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections scheduled for January 15, a wave of public discontent in Prabhag 2 has transformed into a decisive call for a complete election boycott. Residents, fed up with years of unaddressed civic issues, have declared they will not participate in the democratic process.
Years of Neglect Boil Over
The decision, impacting an estimated nearly 12,000 voters, stems from the persistent failure to provide basic urban amenities. The affected localities—Prabuddh Nagar, Maitri Colony, and Dhamm Jyoti Nagar—house a combined population of 15,000 to 20,000 people. Their primary grievances are the unfinished sewer networks and the complete absence of proper roads, which have made daily life a struggle.
Chandrashekhar Bagade, a leading resident activist, emphasized that this protest action was not impulsive. "This decision wasn't taken overnight," he stated. The community's frustration reached a peak on Friday with a public demonstration where residents held a banner on the kuccha road leading into their area, directly accusing local leaders of ignoring their plight.
A History of Unanswered Appeals
Bagade detailed a long history of futile appeals. In a stark protest in July 2024, residents sat in knee-deep slush to dramatize their demand for fundamental infrastructure. After getting no response from civic officials and corporators, they escalated the matter by submitting three formal representations to both Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and local MLA Nitin Raut. Despite these high-level appeals, funds for the projects are yet to be released.
This anger is now directly confronting politicians on the campaign trail. Former corporators, those seeking re-election, and party canvassers are facing the public's wrath over years of unfulfilled promises. "People are questioning them directly — where were you for the last 5 or 10 years?" a local resident said, adding that leaders' sudden talk of development rings hollow after residents have endured sewage and mud for years.
Daily Hardships and Political Embarrassment
The consequences of the neglect are severe and everyday. Women residents like Savita Bagade highlighted the tangible risks posed by the crumbling infrastructure. "Children fall sick, ambulances struggle to enter lanes, and elderly people slip during monsoon. Yet, leaders only remember us during elections," she pointed out.
This organized boycott in Prabhag 2 presents a significant embarrassment for political parties that are campaigning on platforms of urban development. The situation is particularly sensitive as the city has been under administrator rule for nearly three years, heightening expectations for these delayed polls. With voters openly confronting leaders and threatening mass abstention, the eagerly awaited civic elections have become highly unpredictable, showcasing the power of public dissent against systemic neglect.
