Would NOTA help in better governance?

Would NOTA help in better governance?


Introduction

NOTA is a very unique option for the voters to loudly announce their reaction against casting their vote to any of the candidates. NOTA precisely call up for ‘none of the above’ candidates. This power in the hands of the voters would soon become a tool in their aid towards their selection of the candidate to come to the power and form the government. It is not always the positive that leads to the ultimate aim, but the negative virtues plays an important and crucial role to the destiny, so is this NOTA power. Though many feel this to be a useful tool for the citizens, few have the opinion against this. Would NOTA actually create any difference and help in forming better governance?

Yes

- This is a very important tool which will avoid the inappropriate candidate from coming to the power and ruling the country and its citizens.

- The NOTA power will be an indirect compulsion for the political parties to give the party ticket only to the efficient candidates who could earn them a good vote bank to form the government.

- This power in the hands of the voters symbolises that the politicians cannot manipulate the rules and regulations and hence the democracy will remain an aid for the citizens and not a toy in hands of the political parties.

- NOTA is a good way for the people to convey their dissatisfaction, discontentment for the party and candidates and they can convey their anger by casting their vote for NOTA.

- It is a very good option for the people to avoid the incapable and bad elements from entering the contest for power and authority. Citizens would have the right to expel an inappropriate candidate from the contest.

No

- NOTA is indirectly a means for neglecting the responsibility of opting a candidate to provide with the power and authority. If we consider NOTA to be a power in the hands of common man, then more power calls for more responsibility. The judicious and cautious use of the veto power is important in a democratic set-up. NOTA is a mere escapism from performing the duty of deciding a person to come to the rule.

- To help improve governance we need new candidates coming up for contesting the elections with refined thoughts and new ideology, which is very difficult in current scenario. NOTA power with same old candidates searching for a weak link to burst in with the corrupt thoughts would be of no use.

- People do need to come out and cast their vote. NOTA could not drag the people from their home to cast their vote. We hardly find three-fourth population coming on to excise their veto power. With such a negligence with the people, how can we expect a good governance.

- Corruption is prevailing in the country like a menace. The NOTA can hardly make any difference in the corrupt politics and governance.

- Nobody in the world is ideal. Everyone have some or the other weakness. It is a decision to choose a person with less ill-qualities. When we are to choose one among the weaker link, then there is no requirement for the NOTA.

Conclusion

We can give plenty argument against the NOTA, still in the present scenario prevailing in the country, people do require a power to say ‘No’ to the contestants in the elections. The political parties need to get a thrashing from the common man and realise the power of the citizens in the formation of the government. The parties need to fulfil the bare minimum seats to come to power which should be made impossible, provided no candidate deserves to come on to power. This power of NOTA is definitely a strong requirement for a better governance.
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    Discussion

  • RE: Would NOTA help in better governance? -Teena Bhatia (08/15/14)
  • NOTA can certainly help in better governance. It is the option for the people who understand the value of their vote. Some of the citizens just don’t go out and vote because they don’t find the right candidate. With the option of NOTA they can show their dissatisfaction towards the selected candidates. It will definitely force the parties to check out the profile of their representatives.

    The right form of governance comes from small little steps. Application of the NOTA is the way to show that India is a democratic country and people are free not to select any candidate from the list.

    NOTA option will encourage the people to come ahead and vote. If the voter turnout is high with no clear winners or higher NOTA percentage votes, it will be a clear indication for the parties that people have rejected their candidates and their election work. The search to get a better representative will get strong. And it is what the country wants. NOTA is the way for the people to choose no one rather than selecting a wrong candidate. It will pave way for the transparency in system. Take a simple example of a objective question where if the given options are not valid students need to select none of the above. The answer scores marks!!