The Election Commission (EC) has announced assembly polls in five states between November 11 and December 4, setting the ball rolling for what is set to be the semi-final between the Congress and the BJP before their big face off in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are expected to witness virtually a straight contest between the two biggies while in the national capital Delhi, a near-bipolar polity all these decades, they will be required to fight off a spirited challenge from debutant Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party.
In tiny Mizoram, the fifth state in play, the fight will be between the Congress and Mizo National Front. The BJP has only a token presence in the northeastern state. Results will be announced on December 8. While the outcome will provide tailwind to whoever fares better in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Delhi, the coming matchup stands out also because it will mark the introduction of “none of the above” (NOTA) option for the voter who often despairs at the sameness of choices on offer.
As directed by the Supreme Court on September 27, the electronic voting machines will feature a NOTA button as well.
Besides, in another first directed by the top court, this time it will be mandatory for candidates to fill up all columns in the nomination form. The SC’s insistence on complete disclosure is a boost for the votaries of transparency.
Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram will have a single-day poll on December 4, November 25, December 1 and December 4, respectively. Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase exercise, on November 11 and 19, to ensure peaceful conduct of polls where Maoists, increasingly desperate, pose a formidable challenge.
No comments:
Post a Comment