In Rajasthan assembly elections, approximately 15 constituencies polled more NOTA (None Of The Above) votes than the victory margin of the winning candidates. Votes polled as NOTA could have yield 7 to 8 more seats to either the Congress or the BJP. None Of The Above (NOTA) option gives the voter the choice to reject all candidates in the election fray.

Health minister Kalicharan Saraf won by 1704 votes from Malviya Nagar constituency where NOTA was exercised by 2371 voters. The lowest victory margin was witnessed in Asind constituency where BJP’s Jabbar Singh Sankhla won by 154 votes from Congress’ Manish Mewara, while 2943 voters opted for NOTA.

Similarly in Pilibanga, BJP’s Dharmendra Kumat defeated Congress’ Vinod Kumar by just 278 votes but 2441 NOTA votes were polled, as per the election commission data. While on Marwar Junction seat independent candidate Khushveer Singh defeated BJP’s Kesaram Choudhary by 251 votes against 2719 NOTA.

Thousands for NOTA

The other assembly constituencies where NOTA votes were recorded more than victory margin include: Ghatol, Chohtan, Pachpadra, Bundi, Chomu, Pokran, Khanpur, Khetri, Makrana, Dantaramgarh and Fatehpur.

However, most of the NOTA votes were exercised by the people of Banswara district, which comprises five assembly seats. Kushalgarh constituency of Banswara district recorded highest 11,002 NOTA votes where victory margin was 18950 votes. Bagidora witnessed 5581 NOTA votes followed by 4857 in Ghatol, 4594 in Garhi and 3876 NOTA votes in Banswara assembly segment.

Nonetheless, NOTA seem to have no effect. On the other hand, Chandigarh EC recently announced that NOTA will be treated as a fictional electoral candidate. If in the election, all the contesting candidates individually receive less votes than those cast for the fictional candidate, NOTA, none of the candidates will be declared elected. The polls will be cancelled and held afresh. We see it as an inspiring move.