No NOTA button in Bengal's civic polls

By this time, we all more or less know what NOTA is. Yes, None Of The Above; a system or to be more precise, a button introduced post Supreme Court’s September 2013 order on a plea by the Election Commission in 2009.

It is based on the principle that consent requires the ability to withhold consent in an election, just as they can by voting “No” on ballot questions.

Earlier, a voter had to approach the presiding polling officer to cast a negative vote but with the introduction of the Nota button, secrecy of voting has been upheld. However, today’s blog is not to throw light on the pros and cons of Nota. Rather, it is to draw your attention towards a rather concerning issue.

On May 14, seven municipalities of Bengal namely: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Kurseong, Raiganj, Domkal and Pujali will be going to polls. Apparently a minor issue but if thought with political acumen, this election is important because of the recent rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Though the party has not been able to gain much grounds but a steady growth in the state is visible and that the party’s next target is Bengal is clear from the fact that BJP’s national president Amit Shah paid a three-day visit to Bengal recently.

However, our topic of discussion on whether BJP is the next option or not in Bengal can rest for a few days and we shall keep it for some other blog. What is surprising is that the state election commission has till date, not notified the district administrations to include the Nota button in the Electronic Voting Machines for the polls in the above-mentioned municipalities.

One might argue that the Nota button is a personification of the saying “a toothless tiger” but with no Nota button in the EVMs, the very spirit with which it was introduced in 2013 is compromised with. The Supreme Court had said that the introduction of the Nota button will ensure a larger voter turnout as people will get a chance to not waste their votes yet exercise the right to adult franchise.

While Nota is mandatory in the General and Assembly elections, the same is at the discretion of the state election commission for the civic/ municipal elections.

2017 municipal elections in the seven civic bodies can be divided into two, both having equal importance but in different ways and pose a threat to the government of the day.

While the Trinamool Congress is eyeing at making it to the Hills by winning all the four civic bodies, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is a stronghold in the areas and if Hill politics is to be kept in mind, then GJM cannot be taken so lightly.

On the other hand, the election in Domkal, Pujali and Raiganj is important as the BJP has started making inroads in the state. Though the party might not be able to dent the support base of the TMC in this poll, it might as well gain a few seats thus boosting the morale of the partymen aiding them to fight it in the panchayat polls next year.

At this juncture, no matter how trivial the Nota button acts as, the state election commission should include it in the voting machines at least to upbeat the morale of the voters who might not want to elect anyone from the list of candidates provided.