Frustrated by the lack of basic services during the recent Vishwamitri River floods, residents of Vadodara are calling for a boycott of politicians and elections. 

While there are no polls due anytime soon, politicians have been flocking to the city for photo ops with its flood-hit residents. And the people are pushing back.

In Purshottam Nagar Society, Akota, a banner at the entrance reads, “No leader or worker of any political party should enter this society.” Similarly, Pratap Baug Society residents have posted a notice requesting political leaders to stay away. They have also advocated for an election boycott.

Flooding in the Vishwamitri is hardly new, but Vadodara last week saw its worst flood since the 1970s. Water levels rose as high as one-storey, even a kilometre away from the riverbanks. Areas that had never experienced waterlogging were flooded. People were left without electricity, water, and basic resources for three days.

As the floodwaters receded, a host of politicians descended on the city’s affected areas–ostensibly to offer aid. However, the visits by leaders including Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghavi, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Balu Shukla, and MLA Manisha Vakil, and multiple corporators, have only fuelled public resentment.

The growing public anger towards politicians in Vadodara highlights the deep frustration of residents who feel let down by the lack of preparedness and poor response to the devastating floods. With no elections on the horizon, the boycott calls reflect a sense of political disillusionment and a desire to hold the government accountable for its failure to provide basic services and disaster management. 

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