How NOTA fared in the LS polls for 2019:
LUCKNOW: According to an analysis of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NOTA (none of the above) option, which was initially introduced in 2013 to give voters the ability to voice their unfavourable opinions about candidates, has become a powerful force in Uttar Pradesh’s electoral landscape.
Try this out. Up to 58 Lok Sabha seats had more NOTA votes cast in them than in those won by smaller parties and independent candidates combined.
In contrast, the situation differed in 22 other Lok Sabha seats, which were mostly located in central and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Independents and smaller parties received more votes in these constituencies than NOTAs did, pointing to a varied political environment in which local factors and candidate profiles were important considerations.
Voters are increasingly choosing to use NOTA as a democratic way to voice their displeasure with the contenders. Voters in these seats used their democratic right to reject every candidate that was put out, indicating a desire for better options and political parties to take responsibility for their actions, according to Ashok Nigam, a former additional solicitor general of India.
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Rajendra Agarwal of the BJP received 5.86 lakh votes in Meerut, while Haji Mohammed Yaqoob of the opposition alliance received 5.81 lakh votes, narrowing the victory margin to only 4,729 votes. 6,316 NOTA votes were cast in this constituency.
Similar to this, Bholanath of the BJP received 4,88,397 votes in Machhlishahr, while Tribhuvan Ram, his closest opponent, received 4,88,216 votes. This narrowed the winning margin to 181 votes. 10,830 votes under NOTA were cast, however.
Ram Shiromani, the opposition coalition candidate, defeated Daddan Mishra of the BJP in Shravasti with 4,41,771 votes. With 4,36,451 votes, Mishra won. There were 17,108 NOTA votes for Seat. The state’s largest number of NOTA votes—21,118—was registered in Robertsganj. In actuality, out of 12 contenders, NOTA placed fourth. Jaunpur took notes
