none of the above

NOTA vote maximum in Chhattisgarh

It was Chhattisgarh that polled the largest number of ‘none of the above’ (NOTA) votes — an option available for the first time to voters to reject all the candidates.

As many as 10,848 voters exercised the option in Chitrakot, a small constituency in the naxal-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh — declared a “liberated zone” by left-wing extremists. This was the highest number in all four States where Assembly election results were declared on Sunday.

An interesting scenario emerged in Pansemal in Madhya Pradesh, where there were only two contestants — one from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the other from the Congress. While the winning BJP candidate polled 77,919 votes, his rival got 70,537, whereas 9,288 votes were recorded under NOTA — much more than the difference between the votes polled by the candidates.

Chief Minister Raman Singh and his opponents were rejected in Rajnandgaon by 2,042 voters, while Marwahi from where Amit Jogi — the former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s son — and others were rejected by 7,115 voters. Mr. Jogi’s wife, Renu, and her opponents were rejected by 1,074 voters. Amit Jogi won with a record number of 46,000 votes — the highest in the State.

In Madhya Pradesh, the option was exercised by voters across the State with the figure ranging from 136 in Mehgaon, 189 in Lahar to 9,412 in Junnardeo. Vidisha, from where Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan won, recorded 4,112 votes under the NOTA.

Similarly, in Jhalrapatan in Rajasthan — the constituency of Vasundhara Raje Scindia — 3,729 people rejected all the candidates.

Interestingly, there was no constituency where voters did not reject their candidates.

However, according to the Election Commission of India, NOTA votes will not be treated as valid.

Under Section 158 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, it is the total number of valid votes polled by all candidates that is to be taken into account for calculating the one-sixth of votes polled by an individual for returning the security deposit.

Hence, votes polled under the NOTA option will not be taken into account for calculating the total valid votes polled by the candidates for returning the deposit.

_______________________________________________________________________

That is not fair. NOTA is the citizen's right. It should be treated as valid one.

In democracy, everyone has a role to play. In Ramayana as well as in Mahabaratha, there are so many characters. Each character has a role to play and has a responsibility to perform.

Right now, Anna Hazare has taken up the NOTA responsibility.

No symbol is necessary. Let us not introduce any new symbols. We need to get rid of all these election symbols.

If any citizen of India cannot read and write; then let us have volunteers to teach them the basic reading and writing first.

Kerala says, they have achieved one hundred percent literacy. Let us test it out. No election symbols in Kerala.

Oh, kya, none of the above.

It doesn't make any sense.

Make things very clearly in local languages.

for example, in tamil, write it in full sentence.

மேலே உள்ள ஒருத்தருக்கும் தகுதி இல்லை.

எனது பிரதிநிதியாக, மக்களவைக்கு செல்வதற்கு, மேலே உள்ள ஒருத்தருக்கும் தகுதி இல்லை.

இவர்களில், ஒருவர்கூட, எனது பிரதிநிதியாக, மக்களவைக்கு, என்னால் தேர்வு செய்து அனுப்ப இயலாது.

Likewise, make it in all indian languages.

These votes should be treated as a valid one.

These NOTA votes should be recorded and go into the history.

No victor could tolerate even a single NOTA vote.

They may win with a huge margin of votes. Even then, they cannot take it easy, even a single NOTA vote.

NOTA vote should be accountable and have to be taken into account for security deposit refund eligibility.

This is the first step towards building character of integrity in public life.

It is so disheartening to learn that
Chief Minister Raman Singh,
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia
got NOTA votes.

You can buy other votes with money or with threat or with bribe. But you can do nothing for the NOTA votes. So, the NOTA votes are pure, true votes. They are of very high value. Of course, NOTA votes are valid ones; should be taken into account for all purpose.