Gujarat Assembly polls | Political campaigning banned, locals to be fined for not voting in this village

Gujarat’s Raj Samadhiyala village has been recording close to 100% voting percentage and whosoever deliberately abstain from voting attracts the fine

With the Gujarat Assembly elections around the corner, the entire State is engulfed in election fever. However, the residents of Raj Samadhiyala village in Rajkot district are free from these political dramas as they have barred entry to political parties and campaigning in the village because they think that allowing candidates to campaign would be detrimental to the region.

Raj Samadhiyala village, which is 20 km away from Rajkot, not only banned political campaigning but also imposed a fine of ₹51 on those who do not come out to vote, in order to ensure maximum participation at the time of elections.

Villagers are bound by several rules and regulations framed by the Village Development Committee (VDC) and breaking any of these invokes monetary fine — one of which is not casting vote during elections.

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The village has been recording close to 100% voting percentage and whosoever deliberately abstain from voting attracts the fine. The Sarpanch of the village is also elected by consensus.

The Sarpanch of the village says that with this decision almost 100% of voting takes place here.

The small village with a population of 1,700 people has formed a committee. A few days before the polling, the members of the committee convene a meeting of the villagers and if someone is unable to vote then a reason has to be given to the committee.