NOTA (none of the above) was widely used in the State Assembly elections. A majority of vote that was converted in NOTA became reason for the defeat of BJP Ministers lata Usendi contesting from Kondagaon seat.
Sports Minister lata Usendi had to face defeat by the hands of Mohan Markam of Congress party by a margin of 5,135 votes wherein 6,773 were polled under NOTA option.
The Joint Chief Electoral Officer DD Singh talking with The Pioneer over phone said “average of NOTA exercised by voters in state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh stands around 4,000 votes in every constituency.”
According to the official data release by Election Commission in the 90 assembly seats of Chhattisgarh, including in the Naxal-dominated areas of tribal Bastar, more than four lakh votes which is around 3.15 per cent of the total valid votes polled in the two-phased Assembly elections, were polled in NOTA option.
Chitrakot-ST seat witnessed highest votes in NOTA in the state with 10,848 votes, followed by 9,677 in Dantewada-ST, Keshkal (8,381) and Bijapur (7,179). Similarly Narayanpur (6,731), Kondagaon (6,773), Konta (4,001), Bastar (5,529) also saw wide use of NOTA button.
Further, in tribal dominated of Surguja, an average 5,000 votes had preferred NOTA option in all the eight constituencies while in three constituencies of tribal Jashpur the NOTA votes ranged from 4,000 to 5,500.
In Bhatgaon seat where Renuka Singh of BJP was in fray with Khelsai Singh of Congress 4,480 votes were polled under NOTA option. likewise in Prem Nagar (5,731), Pratappur (5,814), Ramanujgunj (3,594) NOTA votes were polled. In Ramanujgunj Minister Ramvichar Netam had to face defeat by Brihaspat Singh of Congress. In the same way from Samri (6,118), lundra (5,292), Ambikapur (4,327) and Sitapur (5,996) also was good use of NOTA option.
In Marwahi constituency, from where former CM Ajit Jogi’s son Amit Jogi was contesting, 7,115 voters exercised NOTA option. The four constituencies of Raipur saw polling of 10,428 votes in NOTA.