Punjab polls | 12,900 voters find no candidate worthy, opt for Nota in Ludhiana - Hindustan Times
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Punjab polls | 12,900 voters find no candidate worthy, opt for Nota in Ludhiana

By, Ludhiana
Mar 11, 2022 01:44 AM IST

The fate of the 175 candidates contesting the Punjab polls from the 14 assembly segments in Ludhiana was decided by 18,27,340 voters, of which 12,900 chose Nota.

While the electorate largely reposed in the Aam Aadmi Party, as many as 12,900 voters in the district found no candidate worthy of representing their assembly segment, and used the ‘none of the above’ (Nota) option to express their disillusionment.

As many as 12,900 voters in the district found no candidate worthy of representing their assembly segment, and used the ‘none of the above’ (Nota) option to express their disillusionment. (Representative Image/HT File)
As many as 12,900 voters in the district found no candidate worthy of representing their assembly segment, and used the ‘none of the above’ (Nota) option to express their disillusionment. (Representative Image/HT File)

The fate of the 175 candidates contesting the Punjab polls from the 14 assembly segments in Ludhiana was decided by 18,27,340 voters, of which 0.7% chose Nota.

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At 1,701, the highest number of Nota votes (0.9%) were polled from Gill constituency where 1, 84,163 voters exercised their franchise. Political pundits say residents’ repeated complaints about the poor sewerage system, bad roads and contaminated water were to blame. On the other hand, Payal polled the least Nota votes (521).

Fewer Nota votes polled against 2017

Fewer people opted for Nota this time, 2,048 less than the 2017 assembly polls when 14,948 people had chosen the option.

AAP leader Neel Garg said the decrease in Nota votes indicated that people saw AAP as deserving of forming the government in Punjab. “People were impressed with the Delhi model of governance,which is why many constituencies witnessed a decline in Nota,” said Garg.

Nota beats independents

Interestingly, in several constituencies more votes were polled for Nota than for independent candidates taking on heavyweights. For instance, in Atam Nagar, all six independents contesting the assembly elections proved to be less popular than Nota, and a similar trend was seen in Dakha, Ludhiana Central, Ludhiana East and Ludhiana North.

Political analyst PS Bhogal, a professor at a local college, said Nota does not serve any real purpose. “Titans of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal were defeated as the residents, especially the youth, voted for change, and chose AAP over Nota.”

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