Lack of development prompts locals to boycott Uttar Pradesh polls

Karondi, Jan 31 (ANI): The lack of political will towards development in infrastructure in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has riled voters in Karondi village in the Amethi constituency enough to boycott elections.

"We made many requests to Rahulji, (Rahul Gandhi). Many people went to meet him about their problems but he did not take any actions on them nor is there any hope ahead. That is why we have decided to boycott the assembly polls," said Ankush Srivastav, a villager.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

Polls in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted between February 8 and March 3, and the counting will take place on March 6.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a new 403-member state assembly in March, and the poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)