BJP asks EC for speedy work on right to reject

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict providing voters the right to reject all candidates in a poll, the BJP Tuesday urged the Election Commission to take immediate cognizance of the matter and call an all-party meet.

"The verdict should be seen in the context of compulsory electoral reforms, and the EC should immediately take cognizance and call an all-party meet for its expeditious implementation," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh told media persons here.

In a historic verdict that will empower the Indian voter, the Supreme Court Sep 27 said, for a vibrant democracy electors must have the right to reject all the candidates in the fray, with the option of "none of the above (NOTA)" in voting machines and on ballot papers.

Following the verdict, the EC said it would ensure its compliance "expeditiously".

Once implemented, India will join a select club of nations where the electorate have the option of negative voting. The countries where this right vests with voters are: France, Brazil, Finland, the US, Belgium, Greece, Ukraine, Chile, Bangladesh, Sweden, Colombia and Spain.