Nalanda: A village in Nalanda district recorded zero votes on Thursday after residents collectively boycotted the first phase of the Bihar assembly elections, protesting the non-construction of an underpass on National Highway 20.
Voting was held across 121 constituencies in 18 districts, but in Dihri village under Harnaut block, not a single ballot had been cast at booth number 280 by 5pm. The village falls within the home block of chief minister Nitish Kumar, adding political weight to the protest.
Residents of Mushari village said they had repeatedly requested the construction of an underpass to help them cross the widened four-lane highway. Without it, they said, they are forced to take a three to four-kilometre detour to reach the other side, causing daily hardship.
“The four-lane NH-20 has been built, but no underpass was constructed near our village. We have submitted several written requests. Nothing happened. What is the point of voting?” a villager told officials who went to negotiate.
Despite having 715 registered voters at the booth and around 1,500 voters across two polling stations in the panchayat, no one turned up to cast a ballot.
Super zonal magistrate Ranjit Kumar visited the village after the boycott was reported. “We spoke to the residents and assured them that their concerns would be addressed, but they refused to withdraw their boycott,” he said.
