Congress calls for NOTA in Indore after setback over nominee

After Congress candidate from Indore Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP, the Congress is campaigning for NOTA

Workers from various parties of the INDIA bloc gather for a protest next to the Gandhi statue at Indore’s famous Regal square with banners and placards asking people to press NOTA on May 13 when the Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh goes to polls.

A banner that reads: “Press the last button — NOTA — on the EVM and ensure the victory of democracy.” The banner with a picture of the EVM highlighting NOTA section resembles any election banner seeking votes for a candidate. Only, the the Congress or the INDIA bloc do not have one in Indore.

In a surprise blow to the party, Congress’ official candidate Akshay Kanti Bam had withdrew his nomination on April 29 and joined the ruling BJP the same day. A picture of Mr. Bam in a car with senior BJP leader and State Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya and MLA Ramesh Mendola, who had accompanied the former during form withdrawal, had also gone viral.

The Congress workers of Indore, that were anguished by the sudden move, now seem to have picked up the pace and aim to make a statement in the upcoming elections. They are now holding various such events across the constituency, including a silent march taken out on May 10 with black arm bands and seeking votes for their new ‘candidate’ — NOTA.

They are also going door-to-door with their call, sticking posters on walls and auto-rickshaws.

Indore city Congress president Surjeet Chaddha tells The Hindu that the party aims to get about 3.5 to 4 lakh votes polled on NOTA.

“We have also started holding meetings with our booth level workers to get them to work. We will have our agents at polling booths and will also send our agents for vote counting, he says, claiming that Indore will poll the record votes on NOTA this time.