NOTA outscored 56 of 99 contestants from Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar

As per the data, the NOTA score indicates that independent candidates and those from lesser known parties failed to connect with voters in their constituencies.

The ‘None of the above’ (NOTA) option in the electronic voting machines secured a higher score than 56 of the 99 candidates who were in the fray in the eight assembly segments.

Burhaan Kinu/HT File

As per the data, the NOTA score indicates that independent candidates and those from lesser known parties failed to connect with voters in their constituencies.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates emerged winners and won all eight seats in Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad. However, the lesser used NOTA option outscored 24 candidates in Gautam Budh Nagar and 32 in Ghaziabad district.

In both the districts, the list of candidates also includes those who had contested as independent or on tickets of lesser known parties. The NOTA outscored the majority of the candidates despite its total being only 8,031 in Ghaziabad district and 4,728 in Gautam Budh Nagar.

In three assembly segments in Gautam Budh Nagar, the NOTA option outscored 24 out of 36 who had contested elections — four in Jewar, 11 in Noida and nine in Dadri.

This indicates a decrease in influence of independent candidates and those from lesser known parties. However, there have been several instances in which independent candidates have won the elections — in 2007, 1989 and 1967.

The major fight this time was restricted between the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party for four seats while the Congress candidate was runner-up in Sahibabad.

The results already indicate that the BJP was the popular choice and that there was in increase in awareness among voters. “A majority of the voters, this time, were willing to vote, especially for the BJP after they experienced the work done by the PM in last three years. People wanted better governance in the state and voted to get rid of the ‘goonda-raj.’ BJP’s vote share indicates that it was the first choice of voters,” Ajay Sharma, Ghaziabad city president of BJP, said.

In the entire state, the BJP secured 39.7% of the votes, while the NOTA option secured .9% share with a score of 7,57,643 votes.