Polavaram project-displaced families boycott polling, demand separate panchayat

A view of Polavaram project, which is under construction across river Godavari. File | Photo Credit: K.V.S. 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 oustees, who were relocated to the colony, refused to cast their votes, seeking a separate panchayat instead of remaining under P. Ankampalem panchayat in Jeelugumilli mandal, officials said.Speaking to The Hindu, Eluru Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maddineni Krishna Mohan said officials were holding discussions with the voters at Koruturu R&R Colony.“The Returning Officer, Tahsildar and Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) met the voters and are trying to convince them to exercise their franchise,” Mr. Krishna Mohan said.No voters had turned up at the polling centre till noon, and the polling process had not begun, officials said.Meanwhile, due to the impact of Cyclone Murusu and heavy rainfall in the Agency mandals, District Collector K. Vetri Selvi postponed the MPTC and ZPTC elections in Buttaigudem, Polavaram, Jeelugumilli and Velerupadu 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 - November 06, 2026 02:48 pm IST