None of the above (NOTA) options will be used for the first time in the upcoming election to the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Odisha.
State Election Commission (SEC), Odisha has issued an order to implement the new provision on Friday.
“The State Election Commission, in the 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,” read the order.
The words NOTA will be printed in the last panel after the last candidate and the NOTA symbol will be printed on the symbol column, it said.
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 thereunder.
However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has provided the option of NOTA to the electors 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 poll, official sources said.
Elections for 107 Municipalities/NACs and three Corporations Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Berhampur are likely to be conducted soon after the Panchayat poll in Odisha. The delimitation of wards, reservation seats, and all other formalities required to conduct the ULB election has already been completed.
Recently, the Commission has also enhanced the spending limit of the candidates contesting for the post of Councillors, Corporators, Chairpersons, and Mayors in the civic bodies.
