BELAGAVI: Leaders of several organizations demanding completion of Kalasa-Banduri project and solution to major problems faced by farmers in north Karnataka gave a call to people, particularly farmers, to opt for ‘none of the above (NOTA)’ option in forthcoming ZP-TP elections.
During an interaction with media persons here on Tuesday, President of Kalsa-Banduri Horata Samiti, Vijay Kulkarni, urged authorities concerned to consider unpolled votes under NOTA along with those polled as NOTA officially.
“If the number of votes under NOTA are found more than 50 per cent of total votes, the authorities should cancel the process of election,” he added.
Mr Kulkarni criticized the Union and state governments for neglecting the Kalasa-Banduri project saying the governments were unable to feel the severity of drinking water crisis in areas of north Karnataka which desperately awaited implementation of Kalasa-Banduri project.
According to him, 30 per cent of people would not vote in panchayat election every year due to worsening politics. The Election Commission should consider such unpolled votes under NOTA in both ZP and TP polls.
According to him, only 25 per cent of polling would be recorded in both TP and ZP polls this time in districts of Belagavi, Gadag and Bagalkot as the samiti created awareness among voters in the region.
Karnataka Rajya Ryot Sangh leader Basavaraj Malali has decided to lead a major campaign in Belagavi on February 10 to urge people to press the 'NOTA' button in panchayat elections. He was addressing farmers staging an indefinite agitation at DC office premises in Belagavi.
He explained how the governments neglected all agitations in north Karnataka staged by farmers demanding implementation of Kalasa-Banduri project and said, the governments were unwilling to respond to farmers' problems.
He urged all farmers of north Karnataka to opt for NOTA instead of electing candidates in the fray.
