TN keen on airport project, 1,600 voters in two villages decide to boycott election

WHILE the Lok Sabha election fever has gripped the entire state, there is dead silence at Ekanapuram village in Kancheepuram, which may disappear from the map if the proposed Chennai's second airport in Parandur takes shape.

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA

This village has been the epicenter of one of the longest protests around 650 days now - the state has ever seen.

TNIE visited Ekanapuram and a few other neighbouring villages, whose fertile lands will soon be acquired for the airport.

The discontent against the Dravidian majors is simmering among farmers. They claim that the parties are paying no heed to their concerns and destroying the well-oiled rural economy here.

Ekanapuram and Nagapattu villages, with about 1,600 voters, have already decided to boycott the polls. In a vain attempt to convince the villagers, Kancheepuram collector, superintendent of police, and election observer recently paid a visit here. However, even elders refused to cast postal votes.