The BJP has demanded that the Election Commission withdraw its direction for the use of the ‘None of the Above (NOTA)’ option in the August 8 elections to the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
A BJP delegation comprising Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Rajya Sabha MP Bhupender Yadav called on the Election Commission on Wednesday, a day after the Congress met the poll panel and stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, and submitted a representation on the matter.
In its letter the BJP said the Supreme Court ruling dated January 24, 2014 did not contain a “specific direction” for the use of NOTA during Rajya Sabha elections, and that the Commission had “acted beyond” the apex court’s directive by issuing its notification ahead of the Gujarat RS polls.
The party also argued for consensus among political parties on the matter as the use of NOTA had become “an issue of debate”.
The letter further adds that “there is no secrecy” for voting in Rajya Sabha elections, therefore “the purpose of NOTA is of not much use in such election”.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea by the Gujarat Congress on the use of NOTA during the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls.
A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra agreed to hear the plea after senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the matter before it and sought an urgent hearing. Sibal told the Supreme Court that there is no statutory provision with regard to NOTA in the Constitution.