CHENNAI: First the Dalit villagers of Thervoy boycotted parliamentary elections to protest the acquisition of forest lands for setting up Michelin’s plant, then they backed the DMDK candidate during the recently assembly elections in the hope of getting back the lands and now as a last resort, they are nominating their own candidate to contest the panchayat elections.“We were not heard despite boycotting the parliamentary elections. So we backed the DMDK candidate in the AIADMK alliance hoping that our grievances would be heard. But now as a last resort, we have nominated Dhanraj, our own candidate for the panchayat election,” said Mahesh, a committee member of Thervoy Grama Makkal Nalla Munnetra Sangam.The villagers were up in arms against the transfer of 250 hectares of community forests to SIPCOT for handover to French tyre giant Michelin to set up its `4,000-crore facility.When asked how standing for elections is going to help them get back their forest land, Joint Secretary of the Sangam, Gautaman said that it gives them the freedom to pass the resolution as the new Land Acquisition Bill states that it should be cleared by gram sabhas.“We are just waiting for the panchayat elections to end and then we will launch the struggle vociferously,” said Dhanraj, who is confident of breaking the DMK hold in the village. Munivel and Vani, the husband-wife duo who have been the panchayat presidents of the village for the last 15 years are also contesting. Vani, who is the candidate for president, was instrumental in passing the resolution to give away the forest land. Munivel, he said, “Vani will contest the elections again. During the last five years, they have never let her function properly by putting up innumerable RTI queries, let us see what happens ...,” he said. Vani, who is facing fund misappropriation charges, may not have the mandate but she is contesting the elections to save her pride, said a villager.
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