SC seeks EC’s response on PIL for fresh poll if NOTA gets majority - The Goan Everyday - April 27, 2024. There is no doubt that a large part of the electorate, rather a large number of citizens, are disgusted and disillusioned for quite some time now with the political scenario in our country. And, there are genuine reasons for this feeling. Lack of fulfillment of promises, for instance, backstabbing of voters’ trust by abandoning the party from which candidates have got elected. They don’t-care attitude of our politicians is certainly cause for concern. So, where does that leave the voter?
In order to make known the voters’ disappointment, however, the authorities have introduced what is called the “NONE OF THE ABOVE” (NOTA) option on the EVMs, giving the voter the right to express a negative opinion by not selecting any of the candidates in the fray. The NOTA was actually meant to be a powerful tool to send a strong message to the politicians. However, presently, opting for NOTA is like a wasted vote. The Supreme Court has, however, highlighted the significance of the NOTA option, emphasizing its role in promoting democracy by providing clear signals to political parties about public sentiment towards candidates. One only hopes that the NOTA would one day become a very powerful tool in order to bring the politicians to their knees. Wishful thinking? Who knows what the Almighty has in store for us!
