Bihar has always been seen as a politically active and aware state, it has been considered as a state that gives various dimensions to Indian politics.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Bihar has recorded the most number of NOTA votes and is on the 1^st rank with 8 lakh votes. Eight lakh men and women braved the blazing summer heat, went to the polling booths and cast their votes by punching the NOTA button and rejected all the candidates, considering them not worthy of their votes.

NOTA, None of The Above, is for the people who are not satisfied by any of the candidates contesting for elections. So we can say 8 lakh people from 40 constituencies of Bihar were not happy with the rulng party and with the opposition and thus they opted for NOTA.

It is every citizen’s right and duty as well to vote for the democracy of India and people are very much aware of their right. The people whenever go for voting they properly judge the candidates and then they decide to vote.

Neerja Lal, a professor of St. Xavier’s College of Mgmt. & Technology in Patna says, “As a democratic country we have complete right to exercise our thoughts. In my opinion when I saw so many NOTA votes I thought all that went waste as so many votes could have made a difference. Instead of going for NOTA or any particular party, people should examine the candidate properly who is worth the position and will work for betterment and should vote”.

A resident of Patel Nagar, Ruchin Chainpuri , a local film maker and professor says almost the same thing, “Being a responsible citizen one should exercise their vote not for a particular party but for the candidate whom they think is good and trust worthy. Going for NOTA is wrong in my opinion. “

 Priya Manish Kumar, an educationist who lives in Nageshwar colony, says, “NOTA votes are certainly not a waste, rather it is a way for people to show their mistrust in the candidates. And I also think it is a way of shifting good from the bad”.

Vineet Singh, Rajiv Nagar resident says, “People who used the NOTA option was because of their dissatisfaction regarding their local issues but I think it was a waste to caste NOTA as it was time for choosing Prime Minister of the country if it was the legislative assembly election then it can be considered.

NOTA voters are in fact the ‘certified desh-bhakts’. Frank Krishner, a communication specialist who has experience of both Bihar and northeast politics, says that NOTA voters are aware and intelligent voters. He made three important points.

“First, it is totally wrong to look the Indian election system into a presidential fight. The system is to choose your local Member of Parliament, one who can best work for you, and not some local goon who happens to belong to a party attached to a popular prime ministerial candidate. So an election as per the Indian constitution is always about how your area will be represented in parliament. It is for the elected MPs to choose the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition .

“Second, registering NOTA is a wise way to ensure that no local booth capturer or shady political party agent can vote instead of you in your absence.

“Third, it is only the aware and patriotic citizen who exercises his right to reject the candidates or the manifestos of the contesting parties if they are found to be wanting according to his or her standard. ‘They are far better citizens than some of us, who may talk a lot, but who didn’t vote at all, or who didn’t even bother to check whether their names were on the electoral roll !” Frank Krishner said.

“NOTA is a way of showing disappointment of people and it is good people are exercising it. if people will not get good candidates then it is better to choose NOTA than going for one who is not worthy” says Seema Kumari, a student of Nalanda University.

People who are going for NOTA can either be politically aware people who carefully examined the candidates and then decided to not vote for anyone as they are not worthy of their vote, or they are people who do not want to be drawn into making a difficult decision when faced with a polarizeed atmosphere.

Whatever our opinions may be, the fact is that 8 lakh NOTA votes from Bihar also indicate the anger, mistrust, dissatisfaction, and frustration that people have in the political parties and their candidates contesting for the election.

  Bihar, elections, politics