Bettiah: While Bihar recorded a record-breaking 68 percent voter turnout in the second phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday, one Panchayat in West Champaran stood out for the opposite reason — not a single voter turned up.
In Don Panchayat, under Ramnagar Assembly constituency, nearly 15,000 eligible voters across 22 villages collectively boycotted the polls. Their demand was simple: basic amenities — roads, bridges, electricity, and mobile network. The protest was so firm that villagers imposed a self-declared “lockdown” from 6 AM to 6 PM, shutting all shops and markets.
At polling booths in Don, security personnel and election staff waited in silence. Not a single voter appeared, except for one symbolic vote cast in the entire Panchayat.
“We have seen governments change, but nothing has changed for us”
Jitendra Sah, a resident of Sherhwan Don village, said, “We have completely boycotted the vote. There is total lockdown here. From 6 AM to 6 PM, everything is closed. We have seen governments change, but our roads, bridges, and electricity lines remain the same — nonexistent.”
Another villager, Sujit Kumar, added, “We are in the 5G era, but we don’t even have 2G here. Sick people are carried on cots to reach a doctor. If roads existed, lives could be saved.”
Many villagers expressed frustration over years of broken promises. “The BDO came and asked us to press NOTA. But we refused. There’s no point pressing a button when no government listens,” said Jitendra.
A Panchayat cut off from development
Don Panchayat, located about 60 km from Ramnagar and 115 km from Bettiah, lies inside the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve. Of the 60 km stretch to Don, only 15 km is paved; the rest is a dirt trail filled with potholes and mud. During rains, it becomes almost impassable.
“The road disappears inside the forest,” said Shankar Kumar, another villager. “Even phone signals vanish. In five or six villages, there is no mobile network at all.”
Villagers say road construction is stalled due to the Forest Department’s restrictions within the Tiger Reserve area. “When the Chief Minister visits, the forest department clears the way for him, but not for us,” said Satyendra Sah. “If we get a proper road, we’ll vote. Otherwise, there’s no point.”
“No road, no vote” — written on walls and posters
Before polling day, villagers put up handwritten posters on walls and shops across Don Panchayat. The posters read:
“No road, no vote. No electricity, no network, no healthcare, no vote.”
Despite repeated attempts by officials to persuade them, the boycott remained firm. Ramnagar Block Development Officer (BDO), Circle Officer (CO), and Jeevika Block Coordinator visited the Panchayat to appeal to voters. Later, Bagaha Superintendent of Police Sushant Kumar Saroj also reached the area, but no one relented.
Polling officials distributed slips at doorsteps, but villagers returned them in protest — a video of which has gone viral on social media.
A protest rooted in years of neglect
Don Panchayat, home to a large population of the Tharu tribal community, has long struggled with lack of connectivity and infrastructure. Villagers claim that despite 78 years of independence, they still live without proper roads, electricity, healthcare, or education facilities.
“Leaders come here only before elections,” said Bhup Narayan Mahato. “They promise development, but once they win, no one returns. This time, we decided enough is enough.”
While much of Bihar celebrated democracy through the ballot, the silence in Don was a reminder of the state’s uneven development — where parts of the electorate still wait for basic rights before exercising their right to vote.
