Reject ‘bad’ candidates, NOTA campaign creates waves in UP

A teacher in Lucknow, UP, has embarked on a campaign to create awareness among the masses about the provision of NOTA in EVMs.

Lucknow, Feb 13: In poll-bound Uttar Pradesh a 'new' campaign has attracted the attention of voters. This campaign has nothing to do with any political party or candidate. The None Of The Above campaign, initiated by a Lucknow-based teacher, is creating awareness among the voters to reject 'bad' candidates during elections.

What is NOTA?
In September 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the right of voters to reject all candidates contesting the elections, saying it would go a long way in cleansing the political system of the country.

The apex court directed the Election Commission to have an option of None Of The Above or NOTA on the electronic voting machines and ballot papers in a major electoral reform.

"A teacher in Lucknow has embarked on a door-to-door campaign to make voters aware of NOTA option in polls," reported ANI. "I started the campaign as politicians ask for votes, but don't work. I want people to reject candidates who aren't good," Arvind, the brain behind the campaign, told ANI.

We don't know how the politicians will react to the campaign, but voters in the capital city have surely welcomed the move initiated by Arvind. "Through this campaign got to know that there is an option called NOTA that we can vote for. I was not aware of it," said a Lucknow resident.

This time, the assembly polls in UP is divided into seven phases. The first phase of polling got over on February 11. The second phase of voting is scheduled on February 15.

OneIndia News