Jehanabad, Bihar : Even after six decades of Independence, the residents of these three villages near Patna still have no access to electricity and the angry villagers plan to chase away the politicians who come asking for votes this time. The villagers have also announced a boycott of voting.
Campaigning for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections will end today and 49 constituencies will go to poll in this phase on Monday. This part of Bihar votes in the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections.
Despite politicians' tall claims in the past, the residents of villages, in the Nehalpur Panchayat in the district of Jehanabad, about 50 km from Patna, lead an oblivious existence in darkness for so many years. In such a scenario, lanterns are the only source of light after dark.
"There is no electricity. Not only that, there is no irrigation facility. My father, grandfather could never know what electricity is. But our politicians are busy dividing people on the basis of caste. So what's the use of voting," said Dinesh Kumar, a local.
Getting electricity to all villages in the next few years has been a key promise of both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the run up to the polls.
Mr Kumar has promised that the electricity will reach all settlements by 2017.
In the two months of campaigning leading up to the Bihar elections, electricity has been a major campaign issue.
In many election rallies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had targeted Nitish Kumar, who is seeking a third term as the Chief Minister. "In 2012, he (Nitish Kumar) had said, 'If I don't bring you electricity, I will not ask for your votes in 2015.' But has electricity arrived? No. Is he asking for votes? Yes," Mr Modi had said.
Nitish Kumar says his government has improved the power situation in Bihar considerably
in 10 years, Mr Kumar's administration says, most villages in the state use to get two hours of power every day. Now, the power supply runs for 10 hours. The state government also says that 95 per cent of villages have been electrified.
Campaigning for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections will end today and 49 constituencies will go to poll in this phase on Monday. This part of Bihar votes in the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections.
Despite politicians' tall claims in the past, the residents of villages, in the Nehalpur Panchayat in the district of Jehanabad, about 50 km from Patna, lead an oblivious existence in darkness for so many years. In such a scenario, lanterns are the only source of light after dark.
Getting electricity to all villages in the next few years has been a key promise of both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the run up to the polls.
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In the two months of campaigning leading up to the Bihar elections, electricity has been a major campaign issue.
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Nitish Kumar says his government has improved the power situation in Bihar considerably
in 10 years, Mr Kumar's administration says, most villages in the state use to get two hours of power every day. Now, the power supply runs for 10 hours. The state government also says that 95 per cent of villages have been electrified.
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