With assembly polls fast approaching, it seems this time too confusion regarding use of Rule 49-O (pronounced 'forty nine - oh') would
continue in absence of district administration failing to take extra measures.
During Lok Sabha polls in April, those who not wanting to vote for any candidate but wishing to make their presence felt through the use of Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, had to face nightmares as the polling officers were completely unaware of the provision. Shockingly, the officers asked such voters to vote for a lesser known candidate if they didn't want to vote for any major ones.
"Utter confusion prevailed last time during Lok Sabha polls when I wanted to use Rule 49-O. It was shocking that officials were aware of existence of such a rule," environmentalist Anuradha Paul told TOI. She stressed that there should be an 'No-Vote' button on the electronic voting machines itself in order to maintain secrecy. "The officials panicked initially and then insisted that no such rule existed. Finally, I had to call my journalist friend who helped me by calling top officials from collectorate to clear the confusion.," Paul said.
She, however, added that no secrecy was maintained as her name was written in a register as having exercised her option under Rule 49-O and she had to sign on it. "If same thing is going to be repeated this time as well, I would prefer sitting at home than go to a booth," she says.
An employee working with a private firm in MIDC, Kunal Ghumre also had nightmarish experience when he and his friends wanted to exercise 49-O option. "At Laxmi Nagar booth, the officials laughed at us, raising doubts over our information," he said. However, Ghumre and friends stuck to their stand and asked the officials to consult the control room. "There were contradictions even in what control room staffers told the booth officials. Some were saying that a form No 17A had to be filled up and began searching for it while others asked us to give an undertaking that we would not vote. At last, a friend called the collector who pulled up booth officials and explained the actual procedure to them," Ghumre recalled. "This option should be on voting machine," he too demanded.
Sheetal Korde, also working with a private organisation, said she wanted to exercise this option as she found none of the candidates from her constituency suitable. "I would certainly like to use this option provided polling officials have knowledge of it. During Lok Sabha polls, none of them was aware of it despite wide publicity given in the media. Sadly, I had to return without doing anything and wasted my time arguing with the officials.," she said.
Collector Pravin Darade said this time the polling officers were specially apprised of Rule 49-O and were directed to help the voters who want to exercise this option. "There will be no special camps for this, but officers will be made fully aware of it during normal training," he added.