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It was reported that the NOTA option had very few takers in the recent assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry. But what is NOTA? Let’s find out.

NOTA stands for “None of the above”. It is a ballot option in direct elections that allows the voter to indicate disapproval of all the candidates in the electoral fray. It enables the voter to cast a negative vote without compromising the secrecy of their decision. In other words, it encourages voters to express their dissent against all contestants in a democratic way, rather than boycotting elections altogether. It is based on the principle that when the citizens have the right to vote, they also have the right to reject. If a voter presses the NOTA button on the EVM, it means the individual has not voted for any party/candidate. Though NOTA votes are counted, they are considered invalid, and hence will not impact the results of an election. This, experts feel, renders and NOTA meaningless.

When was NOTA introduced?

The ‘NOTA’ option on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was introduced in our electoral system in the year 2013 on the directions of the Supreme Court which hoped that NOTA would force political parties to choose better candidates. NOTA has its own symbol - a ballot paper with a black cross across it. After the Supreme Court order in September 2013 the Election Commission of India, responsible for holding free and fair elections in the country, added the NOTA button on the EVMs as the last option on the voting panel.

What was the practice earlier?

Earlier when ballot papers were in use, voters had the choice of dropping the ballot box without marking their choice of candidate or marking against multiple options, indicating their rejection of all fielded candidates. These were regarded as null votes. Before the introduction of the NOTA option, those not inclined to vote for any candidate had the option of filling what is popularly called ‘Form 49–O’. But filling the form at the polling booth violated the secrecy of the ballot.

What happens if NOTA wins?

In India, if NOTA gets maximum votes in an election, the election is not cancelled; the next highest scorer wins. The Election Commission does not hold free polls if the majority of the electorate exercises the NOTA option.

Fact file

• The NOTA option on the EVM has its own symbol - a ballot paper with a black cross across it.
• The NOTA option was first used in the 2013 Assembly elections held in the states of Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, and the former Union Territory of Delhi.
• Negative voting is in practice in countries such as France, Belgium, Brazil, Greece, Ukraine, Chile, Bangladesh, Finland, Colombia, Spain, and Sweden. India, by introducing NOTA in 2013, became the 14th country to adopt this practice.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Since March, Delhi, among other parts of India, has been reeling under the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortage of oxygen beds and Intensive Care Units led to a huge surge in Covid deaths. Amidst the crisis, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, announced a lockdown, allowing only essential work to be continued. Meanwhile, the Government has brought the construction work for the Central Vista project under the ambit of “essential services”, a move that flayed by the opposition.

On May 12, in an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of 76 public intellectuals and scholars from India and abroad called for a halt and reconsideration of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project.

The same day, leaders of 12 opposition parties, wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the suspension of the project and they divert the money to aid the fight against coronavirus. Environmentalists and conservationists too have expressed concern over the redevelopment of the power corridor.

What is the Central Vista Project all about? Why does the Central government want to construct the project in the first place?

What does the Central Vista Project envision?

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project is a construction plan to go give India’s power corridor, also known as the Lutyen’s Delhi, a new look and identity. The landmark project, which was announced in 2019, involves constructing a Parliament building, a common central secretariat and revamping of the 3 km long stretch from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate known as the Central Vista. It will replace various offices of the central government, the residence of the prime minister and also the vice president‘s house. The entire project is estimated to cost Rs.20,000 crore and is expected to be completed before the general elections in 2024.

What is the plan for a new parliament?

A new parliament building will be constructed close to the existing Parliament building in the Parliament House Estate, under the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. It is expected to be completed by 2022 in time for the commemoration of the 75th year of India’s Independence. The triangular-shaped Parliament will have four storeys and will come up in an area of 64,500 m² at an estimated cost of Rs.971 crore.

In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 1,224 members, while the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats. At present, the Lok Sabha has a strength of 543 members and the Rajya Sabha 245. It all will also have a Central Constitution Hall to showcase the country‘s democratic heritage, a library, committee rooms and dining areas. The existing circular Parliament House building will be refurbished for use along with the new one. The North and South blocks will be converted into museums.

Why is the revamp needed?

According to the Government, the existing Parliament building built by the British in the 1920s is structurally unsafe. Most of the buildings along the Central Vista have outlived their structural lives. Inadequate infrastructure, lack of safety features and offices spread over different locations are also cited as the reasons for the revamp. It is said that the proposed Secretariat buildings will bring all offices in one place.

When did the construction start?

The construction of the new Parliament building started in January 2021. The Central Government allocated Rs.20,000 crore to the project in March 2021 when the country was in the grip of the pandemic.

Proposed deadlines: The construction of the prime minister’s residence under the ambitious Central Vista project will be completed by December 2022, the Central Public Works Development (CPWD), which is overseeing the project has informed the government-appointed expert panel recently. The new residential complex will have 10 four-storey buildings and will be built on a 15-acre plot. The common Central Secretariat is likely to be built by 2024 under the project.

Why is the project being opposed?

The Central Vista Redevelopment Project is criticised for being pursued by the Government when the country is reeling under the coronavirus pandemic. Opposition leaders, intellectuals, several civil society groups and environmental organisations have urged the government to scrap the project and divert the funds to effects dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

Some experts have raised concerns about the projects environmental impact, while conservationists are concerned about the revamp of the historically significant power buildings in the poor corridor. The Shram Shakti Bhavan, Transport Bhavan, Udyog Bhavan, Nirman Bhavan and Krishi Bhavan or some of the buildings likely to be demolished in Lutyens Delhi to pave way for the project.

How has the Centre reacted to criticism?

The Centre had argued that the project would “save money” which is paid as rent for housing central government ministers in the national capital. It had submitted that the decision to have a new parliament building has not been taken in haste and no law or norms have been violated in any manner for the project.

The Centre dismissed a PIL seeking stay on the construction of Central Vista amid the pandemic, saying that it was just another attempt to stall the project. The Centre claimed that the construction workers at the site were following Covid protocols.

 

Picture Credit : Google