Patna: Voting began at 7am today for the by-elections to the Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti seats in Paliganj, Patna district, with polling underway at 110 booths under tight security. However, the process was marred by a boycott in Kurkuri village, where voters refused to participate citing long-standing issues with road infrastructure.
The Zila Parishad seat, vacated after former member Shweta Vishwas was appointed to the State Women’s Commission, has attracted five women candidates. A total of 6,672 voters are eligible to cast their vote in this constituency. In the contest for the Panchayat Samiti seat, vacated following the death of the previous member, four candidates are standing, with around 4,000 voters eligible.
Meanwhile, polling is also being held for the post of Mukhiya in the Panal Panchayat of Bihta block, where five candidates are in the fray following the incumbent’s death. Fourteen polling stations have been set up in this area.
Despite the organised polling arrangements, a boycott was reported at booth number 118 in Kurkuri village. Villagers are protesting against the lack of road connectivity, refusing to vote until the demands are met. “No road, no vote,” was the message from residents, even as local MLA Sandeep Saurabh arrived on the scene. He faced public anger over repeated unfulfilled promises from elected representatives.
“Our demands have been ignored for years. Politicians come and make promises but nothing happens. We will not vote until the road to our village is built—whether it is for Zila Parishad or Assembly elections,” said one local resident.
Polling across the Paliganj subdivision is being closely monitored by officials. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amanpreet Singh, DSP Pritam Kumar, and Block Development Officer Sanjeev Kumar, along with other administrative officers, have been conducting regular inspections to ensure smooth and secure voting.
Speaking after casting his vote, local voter Bajrangi Ram said, “I voted for development. The arrangements at the booth were good and orderly.”
