Scrap Nota for RS polls: Tewari

New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday approached the Election Commission against the use of NOTA option in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, claiming it was violative of the Constitution and electoral laws, but the poll panel maintained that it was not a new direction and was introduced in 2014. Senior Congress leaders Anand Sharma and Manish Tewari met the Election Commission and demanded that the option of “None of the Above” be removed from use in the August 8 Rajya Sabha polls.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned on Tuesday after Opposition members led by the Congress protested over an Election Commission (EC) notification that provides MLAs the option of “None of the Above” (Nota) while voting for new Rajya Sabha members.

The Congress’ reservations come at a time when one of its senior leaders, Ahmed Patel, is pitted in a close electoral battle to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.

The BJP has the numbers to ensure the election of BJP national president Amit Shah and I&B minister Smriti Irani. It’s Gujarat’s third seat, where the BJP has decided to field Balwantsingh Rajput against Mr Patel, that is the bone of contention. Till just last month, Mr Rajput was Gujarat Congress’ chief whip in the Assembly. Speaking against the introduction of NOTA in Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Anand Sharma said, “It vitiates the election... Constitution has not been amended. Representation of the People Act has not been amended. (yet) Nota has been introduced... Unless the Constitution is amended, how can this be done?” Responding to Mr Sharma, finance minister Arun Jaitley said, “The judgment came several years before this government came to power. The EC pursuant to that judgment, had issued some notification under Article 324. Article 324 covers all election in this country and therefore that’s a circular which they issued. Not now. Earlier.”