Vadodara: Threats by people to boycott civic polls as they did not get roads, water, drainage lines or streetlights are common, but a section of artists in the city have threatened to boycott the civic polls if the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) did not fulfil their demand for an art gallery around the old city. The VMC had razed its Swami Vivekananda Gallery in Badamdibaug about four years ago. The civic body had planned a citizen facilitation centre, video conference hall and a gallery in the same building at the site. But the plan was altered later and the Central Command and Control Centre (CCCC) and the fire brigade headquarter came up at the site.
Presently, there is no gallery owned by the civic body in the city. There is also a dearth of exhibition spaces in the old city area. Artists have argued that the gallery at Badamdibaug was affordable and centrally located.
Various options have been discussed since the last couple of years, but no solution has been found. Artists have made repeated representations and held an exhibition on the boundary of Sursagar recently as a mark of protest. Now, they have threatened to stay away from the polls of vote NOTA.