Giria in Murshidabad’s Raghunathganj 2 block holds a place in history though it is of intrigue.

It saw the Battles of Giria in 1740 and 1763. The East India Company overthrew Bengal Nawab Mir Qasim and re-installed his father-in-law Mir Jafar as its dependent Nawab in the battle of 1763 in what turned out to be a pivotal moment in south Asian history.

In recent history, the Giria gram panchayat has not seen voting during rural elections since 2008.

When the Left Front was in power in Bengal, the ruling alliance won all seats uncontested in Giria in 2008.

It was the turn of the Trinamul Congress to bag all the seats without contest in the panchayat polls of 2013 and 2018. This year, all 14 gram panchayat seats and three panchayat samiti seats in Giria went to Trinamul even before the voting is held.

“This was made possible because Opposition parties are not allowed to file nominations here. So, by default, the sole nominee (s) won. This area is run under the tight fists of local goons and they align with the party in power to nominate their people and then ensure that no other candidates come in the way,” said a resident of Giria, which is 7km from Raghunathganj.

A bamboo bridge that Giria residents use to move outside. Samim Aktar

“It is more a local phenomenon. Although Giria is not rife with crimes, there are hoodlums who keep the place under their control and threaten residents with violence if they cast incorrect votes. During the Left era, they called it open voting,” the source said.

The gram panchayat encompasses five villages — Giria, Bhairabtala, Labonchoa, Nimtala and Chandpara.

Uttam Das, 60, is Trinamul’s winner from Bhairabtala.

“The parties in power change so does the affiliation of people here. I won the election on a Trinamul ticket this year. But earlier, I was CPM booth president. We keep conflicts away here on the basis of an understanding,” he said.

Local resident and migrant labourer Rezaul Karim, 35, came home this week for Id.

“We are instructed not to go to the polling station because the result is always pre-determined,” said Karim.

CPM district committee member Somnath Singh Ray said: “Owing to the people’s fear of reprisal, they stay away from politics. Even the government is well aware of law-and-order problems in the area.”

Asked about the prevailing atmosphere of fear at Giria, Congress Jangipur president Hasanuzzaman said: “It is reflective of a political failure on the part of the parties, including ours.”

Trinamul Jangipur chairman Kanai Mondal said: “No one comes in fora proper campaign or topave the way for free elections.”

Raghunathganj 2 block development officer Debottam Sarkar refrained from commenting on specifics and just said no Opposition nominations had been filed.

“I am new to this posting,” he added.

Police sources said Giria was an isolated and underdeveloped hamlet on the banks of the Bhairab river and vehicles needed to take a 20km detour to reach the nearest state highway.

“This helps goons intimidate villagers as it takes time for us to respond. There is no way for our vehicles to reach the village directly in the absence of a bridge,” said a police officer.

Till the situation changes, Giria villagers will not get a chance to vote in the rural polls.