Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu): Villagers from Mandalkottai in Thanjavur district on Saturday staged a protest demanding that their area be declared a separate panchayat, warning of a boycott of the upcoming elections if their demand is not met.

The residents, who have long been seeking administrative separation from the Kizhakurichi Panchayat under Madukkur, submitted a petition to District Collector Priyanka Pankajam, stating that repeated appeals have gone unaddressed. 

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Villagers alleged that due to their current administrative status, several development schemes and welfare benefits — including insurance, compensation, and agricultural subsidies — are not reaching them fully.

"The Kizhakurichi villagers are only getting all the benefits, including agricultural schemes. We get road, house and water facilities, but not the welfare schemes. The insurance also goes only to them. Hence we are requesting for a separate panchayat, failing which we will submit our Aadhar cards and boycott elections," said Arokkiyasamy, a villager.

As part of their protest, residents also put up banners in the area highlighting their demands.

Pattukottai RTO Shankar and police officers from Madukkur talked to the villagers and told them to vote. They promised that the complaints would be dealt with after the elections.

However, the villagers stood their ground and said they would continue with the boycott if their request for a separate panchayat is not met.