Jammu:Supreme Court upholding right of voters to reject all candidates contesting elections accepting it a fundamental right of speech and expression under constitution, empowered the voter to use option NOTA (None of The Above). But of what use. One who gets the largest count, whatever, of votes cast gets elected. Powerless ‘NOTA’ clamours for empowerment.
Reminiscing NOTA provision introduced in 2013 assembly elections of four states and UT when more than 15 lakh voters exercised this option, S.S. Bijral BJP States Spokesperson observed it is impacting though not meaningfully.
In 2018 Karnataka elections 3.22 lakh used this option. In seven constituencies NOTA votes are more than victory margins of winners: Aland (1045/697); Badami (2007/1696); Gadag (2007/1868); Hirekerur (972/555); Kundgol (1032/634); Maski (2049/213) and Pavagada (794/409).
Given the situation when corruption plagues society, and root causeare politicians, Bijral said revolutionary reforms are called for in electoral system. Referring to reports 95 % elected in Karnataka 2018elections are crorepatis, he said politics is turned game of wealthy rather than of patriotic to serve nation. He said Home Minister Raj Nath Singh, a veteran politician himself gave enough vent to his pain addressing ABVP cadre in Lucknow on April 28, 2018 saying ‘politics has always been a part of India with legends indulging in it but the same has now lost its essence and meaning’.
Respecting observation of Supreme Court that negative voting through use of NOTA could bring about “a systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates”, Bijral former IGP said the as long as rule of one gaining the highest votes stays, increased number of people coming out to express dissatisfaction through ballot would nullify their effort to force political parties to field noble and patriotic souls. He said for NOTA to serve intended purpose, it shall need to be empowered prescribing the winning candidate must secure votes more than the NOTA votes cast. In the event of one failing the candidates contesting should be barred from contesting and fresh election ordered. Bijral said this alone would bring in the salutary change.