Dear Friends, Sometime back we had some discussion on the validity of Rule 49-O and the effects of its use in the Elections. Election Commission responded to it by issuing a Press Release on 5th Dec. 2008 stating that it is as valid as it was before and it is in force even today. Read the Press Note in the link below
http://www.eci.gov.in/press/current/pn051208.pdf Now according to the newspaper reports Sri Navin Chawla, one of the Election Commissioners, has categorically stated that all the Presiding / Polling Officers have been asked to permit voters to use Rule 49-O and record "I Vote Nobody" in the polling booth if a Voter expresses his wish this way. We are a democratic country taking part in Elections of our representatives (Rulers) for last 56 years. But it looks like that we were forced to make wrong choices and there was no way out. It is not true. Indian Constitution provides an alternative, i.e. Rule 49-O. You go to the polling booth, get yourself identified before the Presiding Officer/ Polling officer and then refuse to vote. You will be asked to fill up a Form to formally say "I Vote Nobody". Since there is no issue for any of the political parties in this election most opportunistic approach of putting up borrowed players from any other party is in vogue. In such a situation not much can be gained by voting one rascal or the other. I think for those of us who do not have a candidate of their choice this is an option worth trying. Since Elections are coming we may use this alternative for teaching some lesson to the incompetent, inefficient, criminal, corrupt and selfish individuals/ politicians. Pl. do so. -- "Those who have the privilege to know, have the duty to act." Albert Einstein Dr.V.N.Sharma http://canvas.nowpos.com/vnsharma
