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MADURAI: As the election season gathers momentum, a few villages in south Tamil Nadu have been holding out against political messaging. Othaveedu in Madurai is one such village where political advertisements, banners, flags, posters, or messages of any kind are barred.Politicians enter the village and campaign for votes, but that’s about it. Villagers do not accept gifts or freebies or allow any advertisements to be stuck in the village, be it on walls of a house or public spaces. “Apart from political posters, we do not allow posters for religious or private events such as festivals and weddings either. If such a poster is stuck on walls, village elders ask them to remove it immediately,” P Pandi, a shopkeeper said. He added that parties and campaigners respect the rules. In fact, these rules are explained in a notice posted at the bus stand.”We follow these rules so no one is swayed by propaganda on posters and banners or has any allegiance to a particular flag,” says M Jayaraj, another resident. “When the time comes to vote, each one makes his or her own decision, without the influence of the rest of the village.” Jayaraj said. This rule is also followed by people returning home from other cities and districts to cast their votes. TOI found that just across the road from Othaveedu, there is a signboard of a recent road development project with details of the scheme. This signboard was not allowed to be placed within the village limits, Krishnan, another villager, said. “That and shop names and their ads are the only ones allowed within the village,” he said.The other villages which follow similar rules on political messaging are Marudhanatham in Virudhunagar district, Komboothi in Ramanathapuram and Balakrishnapuram in Theni.”Politicians are allowed to enter the village to campaign, and they can bring whatever flags and banners they want with them, but when they leave, they must take all of that with them,” said Murugan, a resident of Balakrishnapuram village.The rules regarding politics enforced by these villages also ensure that there is no discord among villagers based on politics. “It is not discussed publicly. Each person votes for who he or she wants. There are no arguments or discussions about it during panchayat or other public meetings,” he added.
