Maharashtra polls: NOTA percentage sees significant rise in 2019

percent of voters punching in ne of Above or TA options in recently-concluded Maharashtra assembly elections has seen a rise compared to 2014 polls. In October 24 verdict, ruling BJP-Shiv Sena mand to retain power but ceded considerable ground; saffron allies collectively lost 23 seats to ir rivals - NCP and Congress.

7,42,134 voters opted for TA

analysis shows 7,42,134 voters opted for TA as against 4,60,741 votes who h chosen this option in 2014 polls. Collectively, TA percent stood at 1.35 per cent of total votes cast as against 0.91% of previous assembly polls. TA option, which indicates voters' disenchantment with candidates in fray, secured second place in two constituencies which are pocket borough of political heavyweights in state, which comprises 288 Assembly seats.

TA option, however, does t impact results of elections. In Latur Rural Assembly segment in Marathwa region, Congress candidate Dhiraj Deshmukh secured 1,35,006 votes (67.64 per cent) whereas TA clinched 27,500 votes (13.78 per cent) to secure second position. Dhiraj is son of late chief minister and Congress stalwart Vilasrao Deshmukh who hailed from Latur district.

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In Palus-Kegaon Assembly constituency in Sangli district in western Maharashtra, Congress minee Vishwajeet Kam emerged a winner with 1,71,497 votes, while TA came in second with 20,631 votes. Vishwajeet is son of Congress stalwart late Patangrao Kam who h nurtured Palus-Kaedgaon constituency during his long political career.

tably, Sanjay Vibhute of Shiv Sena was relegated to third position in seat with 8,976 votes. In high-profile Nagpur South West constituency from where Chief Minister Devendra Fnavis got re-elected by defeating his Congress opponent, 3064 electors or 1.59 per cent of total votes cast pressed TA button. Fnavis secured victory garnering 1,09,237 votes.

In ar remarkable contest in Worli in Mumbai, from where Shiv Sena's Aitya Thackeray me his electoral debut, 6305 voters (4.88 per cent of total votes cast) opted for TA. Thackeray won by polling 89,248 votes. TA option was first introduced in Maharashtra in 2014 elections, following a Supreme Court verdict a year earlier. apex court h n observed that negative voting will le to a systemic change in polls and political parties will be forced to project clean candidates. On October 24, BJP won 105 seats and Sena 56 while NCP and Congress bagged 54 and 44 seats, respectively.

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