Furious over poor allotment of Assembly tickets by the Congress party in Madhya Pradesh Muslim organisations would launch statewide campaign in favour of ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option.
Madhya Pradesh Muslim Vikas Parishad (MPMVP), Muslim literacy Society (MlS), Muslim Ittehad Committee (MIC) MP Chapter and others who were running from pillar to post for getting Congress tickets for the community leaders from the Muslim populated constituencies demanding two dozen tickets disappointed with allocation of just five tickets have decided to campaign for NOTA option.
MPMVP chairman Mohammed Mahir while talking to The Pioneer over the issue said, “The way Congress overlooked community claims and provided just 2 per cent tickets in the State that has over 10 per cent Muslim population has disappointed us and in turn we have decide to campaign for the NOTA option all over the state except for the five seats from where Muslims are fielded by the Congress.”
Mahir further said, “The Congress party wants to get 100 per cent votes of the Muslims but do not want to strengthen the political leadership of the community. We were demanding tickets for the community leaders only from those constituencies that have over 30 per cent of Muslim population. These constituencies sum up to about two dozen, besides the fact is that we play decisive role on over three dozen constituencies of the state.”
Khalid Ghani of MlS is of the view that in order to teach a lesson to the Congress that treats Muslims like its slave, we have decided to campaign for the NOTA option.
MIC, which has been running a campaign to get tickets for the Muslim leaders for past few months have also joined hands with the MlS and MPMVP and has extended its support for the statewide NOTA campaign.
Mahir and Ghani claimed that they are in touch with many other community outfits that are ready for extending support for the cause.
Notably, ‘NOTA Option’ will make debut in the ensuing Assembly elections for the five States. Election Commission has issued instructions for Chief Electoral Officers of States and Union Territories to introduce the NOTA option during polls to enable voters to exercise their right to not vote for any particular candidate while maintaining secrecy. EC has decided to introduce the NOTA option after Supreme Court in a September 27, judgment directed that the said option be included for voters on EVMs and ballot papers.