Nearly 100 people use option 49(0), don't vote for anybody

Nearly 100 people 'affected'  by the land acquisition made for expansion of the Chennai airport today recorded their protest by making use of a relevant section in the election procedure 49(0) —  not casting vote for any particular candidate — during the Lok Sabha elections held here today.     

S Karthikeyan, a resident of Tharapakkam, one of the areas which has been earmarked for land acquisition for the project, told PTI that he and the other protesters preferred not to vote "to express anger against the government."      

Tharapakkam comes under Sriperumbudur Lok Sabha constituency, where Union Minister T R Baalu is contesting from.    

 "About 100 affected persons went to the respective booths and signed the Form 17-A (to declare the intention not to vote)," Kartikeyan, spokesperson for the umbrella organisation 'United Forum for People's Survival' said.  

Under section 49-O, the voter can record his decision not to vote, for which Form 17-A is made available.