Bettiah: In an unusual turn of events during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, residents of Baudh Barwa village in West Champaran’s Mainatand Block boycotted the vote to protest the lack of infrastructure development. Instead of casting their ballots at booth number 74, located at Upgraded Middle School under Valmiki Nagar parliamentary constituency, the villagers began constructing a long-awaited connecting road to their village.
Officials, including Deputy Collector Chandrashekhar Kumaran, Excise Superintendent Manoj Kumar Singh, Block Development Officer Pankaj Kumar, Police Inspector Sarfaraz Ahmed, and SHO Mantu Kumar, attempted to persuade the villagers to vote. However, their efforts were in vain as no voters turned up at the polling booth. The presiding officer confirmed that out of 974 registered voters, none participated in the election.
Villagers explained that the road leading from Baudh Barwa to Bastha has been neglected since 1995, leaving it in a state of disrepair. Despite numerous appeals to MPs, MLAs, and local authorities, their pleas have gone unanswered. Mahanand Yadav, a resident, highlighted the daily challenges faced due to the dilapidated road, particularly during medical emergencies.
“The road’s poor condition makes it almost impossible to reach Mainatand quickly in case of health issues,” said Yadav. “Accidents are frequent, yet political leaders have shown no concern for constructing the road.”
Madan Prasad, another resident, echoed these sentiments, lamenting that despite raising the issue repeatedly over the past decade, no action has been taken. The road becomes virtually impassable during the rainy season, severely affecting the villagers’ ability to transport crops and impacting their livelihoods.
The unsafe road conditions have also led to frequent injuries among school children, adding to the community’s frustration. This boycott underscores the villagers’ demand for immediate and tangible improvements to their essential infrastructure.
