West Champaran: As Bihar recorded high voter turnout in the second phase of the assembly election on Tuesday, more than 22 villages in West Champaran’s Ramnagar constituency staged a complete boycott, leaving several polling booths without a single vote by 11am.
The boycott, affecting over 15,000 eligible voters across the Don panchayat, was driven by anger over the lack of roads, electricity, bridges, health services and mobile network in the region. At multiple locations, posters reading “No road, no vote; no electricity, no vote; no education, no vote; no healthcare, no vote; no network, no vote” were displayed. Another slogan read: “Donvasi ki yahi pukar, abki baar vote bahishkar.”
Villagers from several Tharu-dominated hamlets—including Gardi Don, Naurangia Don, Khairahni Don, Laxmipur Don, Gobarahia Don and Bethani Don—said they had returned their voter slips to block-level officers days before polling. A video of villagers announcing a collective boycott had gone viral earlier this week.
Residents said that despite 78 years of independence, basic infrastructure remained non-existent. “Leaders come during elections with promises, but once they win, they never return,” a villager said. “This time we have decided: no development, no vote.”
Officials including the Ramnagar BDO, CO and Jeevika block coordinator reached the affected villages to persuade people to vote, but the appeals were rejected. The Bagaha superintendent of police also visited the booths and attempted to hold talks, but villagers stood firm.
The wave of boycotts was not confined to West Champaran. In Araria, voters at booth number 33 in Saguna reportedly stayed away in protest demanding a bridge. Only 12–15 votes were cast in the first four hours. In Sitamarhi’s Bathnaha constituency, residents of Sonwa village boycotted booths 350, 351 and 352, alleging police had filed false cases against innocent villagers.
Meanwhile, across Bihar, voter enthusiasm remained high. By 11am, the state recorded 31.38% turnout as polling continued across 122 constituencies.
