2.10 percent NOTA, less than one third polling: time for political parties to introspect after MC Patiala debacle
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ December 22,2024
The right to reject political candidates has been gaining popularity among disappointed voters as this has come to fore in the just concluded Patiala Municipal Corporation elections. This action of voters has sent a shock wave to worry the major parties.
Over the years in elections — in general and state assemblies — the NOTA share is increasing. This time 2.10 percent voters i.e.1573 voters of 45 wards of Patiala Municipal Corporation have pressed NOTA.
On the Election Day, 75,255 voters polled their votes to elect 45 MCs. Out of these 1573 voters pressed “None of the Above” (NOTA).
In another interesting fact only 615 eligible voters exercise their right to vote in ward number 21 where Navdeep Kaur of aam aadmi party (AAP) has won the elections. The ward number 21 has 4012 eligible voters, which means only 15.32 percent voters polled their votes, the lowest in the just concluded elections. Also 26 voters of ward number 21 also pressed NOTA.
Similarly, the highest numbers of votes were polled in ward number 15 where Tejinder Kaur of aam aadmi party (AAP) candidate won the elections. The ward has 6261 eligible voters. 22 voters of ward number 15 also pressed NOTA.
The ‘None of the Above’ option has its significance as it shows voters’ displeasure over the choice of candidates from a particular party. This time all four major parties -AAP, Congress, BJP, SAD had fielded their candidates. Besides these BSP, independent candidates had also filled their nomination papers.
What is NOTA?
NOTA was first introduced in 2013 after a human rights organisation PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties) moved the apex court of the country with a writ petition— demanding the inclusion of the NOTA option in the voting process. NOTA votes are crucial to the results of an election as they deduct votes from political parties, which can lead to shifting of victory margins.
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