47. None of the Above

Source: Millennium Post

There exists a general anguish over the way political parties and candidates are conducting themselves in the country today. In the recent Maharashtra elections, for instance, around 7, 42,134 voters opted for NOTA (None of the above).  Particularly in Mumbai, nearly 1.45 lakh citizens expressed their frustration with the government by choosing this right. The public is clearly frustrated with issues such as the Metro Car Shed in Aarey Colony and the controversy regarding the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank. If we move back in time, we see that during the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh state polls in 2018, NOTA was a deciding factor.  In fact, NOTA got over 15 lakh votes in the assembly elections of five states towards the 2018 year end¹.

So what is NOTA?

In simple terms, NOTA is an expression of discontentment among the voters against the candidates. It was passed in Supreme Court in 2013, and it cleared the way for registering a negative vote to express popular protest against the candidates and their political parties. However, the right was first used in India way back in 2009. Chhattisgarh was the first Indian state to give this right to its voters.

The rising popularity of NOTA among voters raises eyebrows about the current state of elections in the country. It is undoubtedly, an emerging and rising trend in the electoral scene. In some way, NOTA is a clear indication that the electorate does not see any worthwhile alternative to turn to in this atmosphere of discontent. In the 2014 election, UP registered the maximum numbers of NOTA votes. In the country itself, it constituted 1.08% of the total votes.

Many critics believe that the purpose of NOTA is defeated since it is considered an invalid vote. It is also considered as a ‘waste of vote’ as it does not impact the results of the election process. This is not true. “None of the above” feature is an important indicator. It is a powerful tool that can make a difference in the quality of candidates chosen. A rise in the proportion of NOTA voters means that the voters want to exercise their right to vote, but there exists a disillusionment of the political set up. It is a sign that indicates the maturity of India’s democracy. However, these actions should be translated into rightful actions by the elected government.

NOTA is a symbolic instrument to express resentment in a democracy. This is especially true for India: the largest democracy in the world. There have been cases where entire villages have decided to vote NOTA. At the same time, there also have been numerous issues about the misuse of this feature. Voter awareness campaigns are an essential step to rectify these loopholes.  

1.      https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/story/lok-sabha-election-rising-cult-of-nota-the-silent-kingmaker-in-indias-elections-1525420-2019-05-15