When the poll festival kicks off, most streets will be filled up with flags, banners, loud speakers and regular roadside meetings. But a tiny village near Polur presents a different picture away from these hustle and bustle of the political parties.
For more than seven decades, villagers of Vellur-I have been carrying forward the legacy of their ancestors that is keeping their village free from political colour.
The hamlet, which has a count of 1,500 voters, never allows politicians or any election related materials to jut into its jurisdiction. The clean walls in Vellur - I (a Dalit Colony) in Vellur panchayat that comes under Arni Constituency bears testimony to this tradition and for the unity and discipline of residents.
Even politicians and their supporters, who venture into the village to canvass votes avoid loud speakers and desist from distributing pamphlets in this village, which has more than 100 graduates, including six doctors and around 20 engineers and an equal number of teachers.
Like in any other village, which imposes similar rules, Vellur-I shows zero tolerance towards bribing of voters. “Such practices are strictly prohibited. We continue to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors when it comes to elections,” says 79 year-old Kannan, village head (Nattamai). Besides, caste politics is also a taboo here, he added. “Though a Dalit outfit tried to put up their party flags by playing the caste factor, we flatly denied permission,” points out D Velumayilone, village treasurer.
Villagers are free to exercise their franchise as per their likes and ideology. “The village records not less than 90 per cent polling in any election,” he said.
“Above all, till date not a single villager is associated with any political party or even actors’ fan clubs. ,” said 75 year-old T Kannan.