Gorkhas weighing NOTA option in Mizoram elections

Deprived of OBC status by Mizoram government and the alleged step-motherly attitude of Mizos, Gorkhas, who are one of the largest minorities in the state, are weighing the NOTA option provided by the Election Commission in the November 25 Assembly elections.

"The Gorkhas in Mizoram deserve OBC status. We have been fighting for it for a long time. We want OBC status for securing central government jobs. We are not interested in OBC status for state government jobs," Mizoram Gorkha Joint Action Committee, chairman, H B Thapa, said here.

"So this year the Gorkhas in the state might use the NOTA option to register their grievances," he said.

There are around 25,000 Gorkhas in the state out of which 9771 are eligible voters. The Gorkhas are present in 23 of the 40 assembly segments in the state.

"All state governments since 1987 have denied us our rights. Now if our community decides to go for the NOTA option then it is only due to their apathy. We thank the Election Commission for this option," said Mahesh Rai, a prominent Gorkha leader.

The Election Commission has given the NOTA option meaning 'none of the above', for voters unhappy with candidates or those who do not want to vote for any political party.