New Delhi: After opposition Congress, now ruling Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) has also demanded that Election Commission’s direction for using NOTA option in the election of Rajya Sabha in the State of Gujarat should be withdrawn with immediate effect.

In a letter signed by BJP leaders Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Bhupendra Yadav, Mansukh Mandavia and Om Pathak today, the BJP has said: Use of NOTA in the upcoming election has become an issue of debate among the political parties and therefore a proper consensus should be made before the use of NOTA in election of Rajya Sabha and it is further submittd that there is no secrecy for the voting in such election, therefore the purpose of NOTA is not much of use in such election.

BJP has also pointed out that there’s no specific direction by Supreme Court for use of NOTA option for election of Rajya Sabha and therefore Election Commission has acted beyond the direction passed by the Supreme Court by issuing the letter dated 24 Jaunary 2014 and further direction of using NOTA option in the upcoming election for Rajya Sabha in Gujarat.

The letter also states: From the judgement it is clear that Supreme Court has differentiated among the election for Lok Sabha/State Legislative for Election for Rajya Sabha and correctly directed for NOTA option for election for Lok Sabha and State Legislative by declaring Rule 41)2_ and 3 and Rule 49-0 of the Representation of People Act to be ultravires of the Constitution.

The letter has been submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner of Election Commission of India in Delhi in representation on behalf of Bharatiya Janata Party.

Meanwhile Arun Jaitley speaking in Rajya Sabha today referring to NOTA issue said, “In terms of strict legalisms, I may be tending to agree with Mr Anand Sharma(Congress MP) but that was a circular that Election Commission had brought out in January 2014. And therefore the Election Commission is to be represented. All political parties can take view whether it’s correct or otherwise.”

It is also worth noting that Gujarat Congress today moved Supreme Court against NOTA in Rajya Sabha election scheduled on August 8. The Supreme Court is going to hold hearing tomorrow in this case.

DeshGujarat