Can’t find a candidate suitable enough to vote for in the Piravom by-elections, and also worried your vote could be misused? Then go ahead and exercise that vote — under Rule 49-O, not on behalf of any candidate.
The Kochi wing of India Against Corruption (IAC) is offering help to those who wish to use the clause in the coming by-polls.
According to Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, people can register their unwillingness to vote by opting for this, though the provision has not found many takers over the decades.
IAC-Cochin has, meanwhile, put up banners in different pockets of Piravom constituency, offering help for those who want to use 49-O clause.
Mr Sanjeev Neelakantan, convener of IAC-Cochin, said: “We have received reports about colonies and pockets that support no political parties. Usually they (people there) do not cast their votes. We have created awareness in these areas about the provision of 49-O clause, so that they don’t waste their votes.”
The banners carry the phone number (9895624767) of the IAC-Cochin representative to help people be acquainted with the procedure. “We have received 50 to 100 calls (so far). The procedure to cast such votes (under Rule 49-O was given to every caller, though we are not sure how many of them would use it,” Mr Neelakantan said.
He said IAC-Cochin launched the awareness campaign to encourage people to come out and vote. “The government is spending so much money on a by-election (and) it is the duty of each citizen to cast her/his vote,” he said. “Besides, opting not to vote increases chances of bogus votes.”