Wednesday, 16 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The high literacy rate, lack of viable options and disenchantment with the current leadership are the key factors responsible for NOTA (None Of The Above) votes in the recently concluded Uttarakhand Assembly elections, opine political analysts. A total of 46, 830 (0.9 per cent) out of 53,42,462 voters who exercised their franchise pressed the NOTA button on the electronic voting machines in this election. Out of the 70 constituencies, Kaladhungi constituency got the maximum number of NOTA votes.
“According to the statistics, one person in a group of 125 persons pressed the NOTA button which indicates that many people seem to have no alternative. However, this clearly seems to have no impact on the political parties,” said Anoop Nautiyal of SDC Foundation.
“This time the number of NOTA votes were 46,830 which would have no effect on the political leadership, but in the next elections, the NOTA numbers could go up to 4,00,000. Only then it would be instrumental in making an impact great enough to stir the political leadership,” said RTI Club Dehradun president BP Maithani.
“Inadequate healthcare facilities, corruption, weak governance and lack of strong chief ministerial leadership appear to be consistent issues as observed in the past election trends of the State. The people expressed resentment with the BJP regime but Congress failed to garner the much needed support and failed to highlight BJP’s weaknesses. The regional parties too failed miserably in turning people’s support into votes, owing to factors such as lack of organisation, uncharismatic CM leadership and failure to prevent anti-incumbency, which made many Uttarakhandis choose NOTA instead. The parties which were able to secure a higher share of votes in Uttarakhand are the ones with most organised network of grassroots workers”, said HNB Garhwal Central University, Department of Political Science head, professor MM Semwal.
He further added that Uttarakhand is a state which can make room for a third party other than the national parties but it is the local leadership which once again failed to understand the plight of mountains.
