Villagers from as many as 47 villages in the Etapalli taluka of the district have decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections to press for a separate state of Vidarbha, sources said here on Wednesday.

Besides raising other important demands, the boycott is also in protest against the administration not solving their basic problems. 

The decision, which was taken by villagers during their meetings, was declared at a press conference by office bearers of the Rashtriya Janhitavadi Yuwa Samiti. They also submitted a memorandum to the district collector on Wednesday in this regard.

Problems of tribals in remote areas of Etapalli taluka have been ignored all these years and they are deprived of various welfare schemes, despite various agitations, due to which they have decided to boycott elections as a last resort, Samiti founder Suresh Barsagade said. The Samiti demanded that a separate Aheri district be formed and forest rights be given to all encroachers.