Mr Raghavendra Puthraya has sent a mail conveying the following info. Which I find refreshingly subversive, in the context of a growing sense of frustration among voters on the candidate options (lack of) they have. Here, then, is Rule 49’0 -
"In a particular constituency, if a voter has dislike to all of the candidates competing there, Then he can show his dislike to all of them by registering for 49'O".
How to:
1) While registering the name at the time of voting, convey to booth officials that you wish to opt for 49'O.
2) Sign in the 49’0 form available at the polling booth.
If the number of those who signed in for 49’0 is higher than the winning candidate’s total vote count, a re-poll is ordered. The 49’0 option has been available to voters since 1960.
Wonder how many of us were aware of 49’0. I tried Googling election commission website. Would anyone post the relevant link? I have a doubt, Mr Puthraya. If the 49ers outnumber the votes of the winning candidate, there will, presumably, be re-election in the particular polling booth. It wouldn’t make much of a dent in the poll outcome, would it. With effective propaganda drive we ought to make a difference, in a municipal poll situation.
I wish ther was such a rule in our country too. In that case, there would be many re-polls in most of the constituencies! Anyway, this rule may not serve the real purpose that it is intended to do.
Saw a blog post on the front page of Times of India internet edition about this subject and it pretty much says the same. This applies to India. Interesting facet of the constitution!
Here is the link http://o3.indiatimes.com/chauvenist it is still on the front page of times of india internet edition, below the headlines. One can access TOI online at timesofindia.com