In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the “None of the Above” (NOTA) option saw unprecedented support in Madhya Pradesh, securing over 5.33 lakh votes. The Election Commission data revealed that NOTA received 5,33,705 votes across the state’s 29 constituencies, marking a significant increase from the previous election.
Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan highlighted that NOTA’s vote share rose to 1.4% in 2024 from 0.92% in 2019. Interestingly, 1,038 postal ballots also favored NOTA. The highest NOTA polling occurred in Indore, with 2,18,674 votes, where it emerged as the runner-up despite BJP’s Shankar Lalwani winning by a large margin.
Ratlam (ST) constituency recorded the second-highest NOTA votes at 31,735, while the lowest was in Satna with 2,553 votes. Introduced in 2013, NOTA allows voters to reject all candidates, reflecting a growing trend of voter dissatisfaction.
This record NOTA turnout signifies a notable shift in voter sentiment and the increasing use of this option as a form of protest against the available candidates.
