The proposal of the Telangana State Election Commission to hold re-elections if NOTA gets more votes in the upcoming Sarpanch elections leading to severe political differences. It is considering introducing a provision that those who get less votes than NOTA should not contest the elections for the second time.
It is planning to consider NOTA as a candidate and hold voting instead of declaring a unanimous election if there is a single nomination. As per the Supreme Court’s order to ensure freedom of expression for candidates who do not like any of the candidates in the contest, the rules were amended in the state in 2016, 2018, and 2019 by introducing NOTA in local body elections.
However, the current provision is that even if NOTA gets more votes, the person in the next position is declared elected. If there is a single nomination, it is declared elected unanimously. NGOs like the Forum for Good Governance have requested the State Election Commission to hold elections using NOTA, saying that force and temptations are being used in some places to get elected unanimously.
The State Election Commission, which has studied elections in various states, has examined the policies of Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana. In those three states, the provision for re-election is in force if NOTA gets more votes than the candidates in the fray. If NOTA gets more votes for the second time, the rules there stipulate that the second-placed candidate is declared elected without holding a re-election.
In Haryana, however, if NOTA gets more votes, a re-election is held and those in the fray for the first time are not allowed to contest again. In November last year, the State Election Commission sent proposals to political parties that it intends to implement the Haryana model on an experimental basis in the upcoming Sarpanch elections.
When political parties were asked to send their opinions and suggestions, other parties except the CPM did not respond. In the meeting with representatives of the political parties, they expressed different opinions in the meeting chaired by State Election Commission Commissioner Rani Kumudini.
The Congress party opposed the proposal to hold a re-election if NOTA gets more votes. It said that holding a re-election would be a very costly affair. The BRS supported the proposal to hold an election by naming NOTA as a candidate instead of declaring a unanimous election where there is only one nomination. The party leaders said that there is a possibility of threats and shows of force for a unanimous election.
The BJP said that it could not comment as the issue of unanimous election is in the Supreme Court. BJP leaders said that decisions related to NOTA in the elections do not fall under the purview of the State Election Commission and that necessary legal amendments will have to be made for it.
The CPM said that NOTA should be there, but that a re-election is not right if NOTA gets more votes. The Jana Sena suggested that polling should be held using NOTA even in villages where there is only one candidate. The TDP said that its party will announce its decision in two days.