Families displaced from the Polavaram project are boycotting the polls and demanding a separate panchayat

A view of the Polavaram project which is under construction across the Godavari River. File | Photo credit: KVS Giri

Families displaced by the Polavaram project boycotted polling at Koruturu Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) colony in Jeelugumilli mandal of Eluru district on Friday (November 6, 2026) demanding a separate panchayat.

The project outcastes, who were shifted to the colony, refused to cast their votes and sought a separate panchayat instead of staying under P. Ankampal panchayat in Jeelugumilli mandal, officials said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Eluru Zilla Parishad, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maddineni Krishna Mohan said officials are holding discussions with voters in Koruturu R&R Colony.

“The Returning Officer, Tahsildar and Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) have met the voters and are trying to convince them to exercise their right to vote,” said Mr. Krishna Mohan.

By noon, no voters had turned up at the polling center and the voting process had not begun, officials said.

Meanwhile, due to the impact of Cyclone Murusu and heavy rains in Agency mandals, District Collector K. Vetri Selvi postponed the MPTC and ZPTC elections in Buttaigudem, Polavaram, Jeelugumilli and Velerupada mandals from November 5 to November 6.

A total of 1,18,177 voters, including 61,988 women, were eligible to vote in the four mandals, officials said.

Published – 06 Nov 2026 14:48 IST