One of the complaints heard from concerned citizens as the Assembly elections approach is that not any of the contesting candidates are worth their vote.
This apathy transforms into laziness, as the complaining individuals opt to skip elections all together. However, this provides room for the vested interests to misuse the votes of the people, who do not turn up for voting.
The decision taken by an individual, of not casting his ballot, can be taken to the polling booth and the decision can be recorded.
“Section 49-0 of the Representation of People’s Act has made provision for ‘not to vote for any of the candidates’,” says Sudhir Vombatkere, who has exercised this provision in the past elections.
Section 49-0 is an effective tool to prevent misuse of votes. To exercise this right, a voter has to go to the polling booth, mark his finger with indelible ink and explain to the polling officer that you do not want to vote, he explained.
Though this would ensure that one has exercised his voting right, use of Section 49-0 will also be documented by the election authorities, he added.
Personality development
New Life counselling, health, healing and Research centre, is conducting a two-day personality development workshop on NLP-basic (neuro linguistic programming) by Dr Janaki Sundaresh on April 27 and 28 on its premises.
For details contact 9900151907.