Dalit community threatens to boycott Vijayapur municipal corporation election

VIJAYAPURA: The Dalit community has threatened to boycott the Vijayapura City Municipal Corporation election, to be held October 28 over changing of the ward reservation roster.

Several communities, including Dalits and Bhovis of Vijayapur city Ward no. 2 have announced they will boycott the upcoming local body poll.

There are more than 4,000 Dalit voters in Ward no-2. The corporation had earlier reserved the seat for the SC community. Later on, it was changed and reserved for the backward class community. Dalits are disappointed with the decision and have now threatened to to boycott the election.

This is the first poll after it was upgraded to city municipal corporation about nine years ago.

Locals claim that vested interests have given wrong information to the State Election Commission, to change the ward reservation. The community is now demanding that the “mistake” be rectified and a notification as earlier. Until then, the election should be postponed, say residents of Ward no. 2.