Recently we had a lot of discussion on Rule 49-O of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. I obtained the information from Election Commission of India under RTI Act
2005. The reply and clarification are as follows.
1. This Rule has not been amended . It is as it was in 1961.
2. ECI issued a press Note on 5th Dec 2008 stating that Elections will not be cancelled even if " I vote Nobody" is more than the winner's votes. Read the Press Note in the following link
http://eci.nic.in/press/current/pn051208.pdf
3. ECI has proposed to the Govt to provide for "None of the Above " provision in the ballot paper. A petition is pending in the Supreme Court but no details have been given.
I hope and believe that this clarifies the issue and discussion may
continue as to what to do now.
Dr.V.N.Sharma
