Implementation of NOTA Option is Compulsory
Tags: Elections, NOTA, Voting, Universal Adult Sufferage
Related Issue: Right to Vote, Right to Free and Fair Elections
Election Commission needs to fulfill its duty with impartiality resisting pressures Gujarat State Election Commission has announced local bodies’ elections. In this notification, they said that NOTA option will not be given. Option of NOTA was introduced in all the elections making it mandatory as a result of consistent efforts by PUCL and with the directive of apex court of the country. Central Election Commission had instructed all the states to implement NOTA. Under the circumstances, State Election Commission, on its own, cannot take decision to disallow NOTA option. The way State Election Commission is working is indeed dangerous for the democracy.
In reality, some of the Patidar leaders had announced that their community would use NOTA option during the local body elections on a large scale. It seems very apparent that the state election commission has taken this decision because Patidar community is being considered as a vote bank of ruling party and if NOTA is allowed, it may damage the interests of the ruling party. Gujarat High Court has also severely criticized election commission for not conducting elections in time and not rightly implementing constitutional provisions.
It is the duty of the Election Commission to conduct the elections in State in free and fair manner and under peaceful environment. It is an autonomous body and responsible for preservation of democratic values. The commission seems to have forgotten about its own status and is behaving as if it is the servant of ruling party, it appears very clearly. The people of Gujarat will be thankful to Hon’ble High Court which has exposed in no uncertain terms the unethical partnership of State Election Commission and ruling party. Election Commission has been made aware of its autonomous status and its responsibilities and duties and has ordered to behave accordingly by Hon’ble High Court. Let us hope that Election Commission will conduct elections impartially and in fair manner.