In recent state assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Dakshina Kannada, the percentage of voters choosing the None of the Above (NOTA) option has remained consistent. However, upcoming Lok Sabha polls may witness an increase in NOTA votes due to the efforts of certain associations promoting a NOTA campaign.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 7,380 voters (0.6%) opted for NOTA, while in the 2023 state assembly polls, 9,095 individuals (0.5%) chose the same. The NOTA campaign in the coastal district began during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, primarily focused on opposing the Yettinahole project. This movement garnered approximately 7,000 NOTA votes.
Dinesh Holla, convenor of Sahyadri Sanchaya, highlighted that subsequent aggressive NOTA campaigns during panchayat polls saw significant traction, with 14,245 NOTA votes (1.9%) recorded out of a total of 7,34,575 votes. While refraining from organizing a new campaign this time, they urge voters to opt for NOTA to express dissatisfaction with unmet demands.
Several organizations, including Sowjanya Nyayapara Horata Samiti, Rashtriya Hindu Jagaran Vedike, and Prajaprabhutva Vedike, alongside individual efforts, have initiated a large-scale NOTA campaign in the district. Tamanna Shetty from the samiti emphasized the campaign’s objective to seek justice for Sowjanya, a victim of rape and murder, keeping the movement alive through the NOTA option.
The samiti is actively educating voters on how to utilize the NOTA option using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Political parties acknowledge the potential impact of this campaign, with MLA Harish Poonja indicating the need for further discussion within the party. However, former minister B Ramanath Rai expressed confidence that the NOTA campaign would not significantly affect his party’s vote share.
