SALEM: Residents of Bommai Nagar in ward 8 of Dasanaickenpatti panchayat in Veerapandi constituency in Salem district have threatened to boycott the April 23 assembly election citing govt’s failure to provide road and drainage facilities to them. More than 50 families live in Bommai Nagar. Residents said they had requested construction of road and drainage facilities in the village for the past 25 years, but authorities had not taken any action. The residents said roads became muddy and unusable during the rainy season due to the lack of drainage. They said sewage stagnated in the residential area, creating serious health concerns. “We have decided to boycott the upcoming election to protest the govt’s negligence of our village,” said M Suresh, a resident. He warned political party members not to visit the village seeking votes. They erected a banner stating their decision to boycott the election. An official in the Panamarathupatti union said plans were made to lay cement roads and provide drainage facilities under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the 2023–2024 financial year. “However, work could not be initiated due to a delay in fund allocation,” the officer said. The official assured that talks would be held with the residents and steps would be taken to carry out road and drainage work.