Bhubaneswar: None of the above (NOTA) option will be used for the first time in the upcoming election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Odisha. The State Election Commission (SEC) issued an order Friday to implement this new provision.
“The State Election Commission, in exercise of powers vested in it under Article 243-ZA of the Constitution, directs that the option NOTA (none of the above) will be provided to the electors for the general elections to Urban Local Bodies,” the order said.
The words NOTA will be printed in the last panel of the EVM after the last candidate. Also the NOTA symbol will be printed on the symbol column, said the order.
There is no provision of providing NOTA option to the electors under the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 and the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 and the Rules framed there under.
However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided the option of NOTA to the voters for elections to legislative Assemblies and Lok Sabha. So considering that, the SEC has decided to provide the NOTA option to the voters during the ULB polls, official sources informed.
Elections for 107 Municipalities/NACs and three Corporations Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur are likely to be conducted soon after the panchayat polls in Odisha. The delimitation of wards, reservation seats and all other formalities required to conduct the ULB election has already been completed.
