Days after residents of a tribal hamlet in Canacona taluka in South Goa threatened to boycott voting for the Lok Sabha election over their demand for roads, an official of the Election Commission (EC) Thursday persuaded them against doing so.
Residents of Marle-Tirval hamlet in Khotigao Wildlife Sanctuary had earlier threatened to shun voting in the general elections as their long-pending demand of road connectivity has remained unfulfilled.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Kunal visited the village, which has around 250 eligible voters, and held talks with them on Thursday.
"Chief Electoral Officer Kunal attended to their grievances patiently and later convinced them that voting was their right and a sacred duty and therefore it is necessary to vote to strengthen democracy," an official statement released here on Friday said.
He also told the villagers that they could even use the 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option, the statement issued by the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) said.
"The villagers were happy that the CEO visited them all the way from Panaji and they have now decided to vote during the ensuing elections in full strength," it added.
The residents had earlier said that they were upset as all the assurances given by local MLAs about the development of roads had remained unfulfilled.
Polling for the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa and three bypolls will be held on April 23.
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