SEC may have to skip NOTA option in Nov election in West Bengal

KOLKATA: The State Election Commission might not be able to provide EVMs with the 'none of the above' ( NOTA) option in the November 22 municipal elections in West Bengal because of lack of time to incorporate the provision.

"We are considering and will take a call independently on NOTA option as Supreme Court has given its verdict. But, currently we do not have EVMs with this facility and this is a major hurdle," State Election Commissioner Mira Pandey said here today when asked.

Stating that there were about 25,000 EVMs in state, Pandey said it was not possible to procure new EVMs or make the necessary modifications to accommodate NOTA within such a short period before the municipal election poll in Howrah, Krishnanagar, Berhampur, Medinipur and Jhargram.

Speaking at MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the SEC indicated that despite the infrastructure hurdle it has not given up yet and would try to see how the SC verdict could be adhered to.

She said there was also no clarity on implementation of this on ballot paper as there was no such option.

The NOTA option would be available, however, in the assembly polls in five states between November 11 and December 4 announced by the Election Commission of India.