Email Forwards and 49-O

It has become a fashion since the Mumbai attacks to keep sending forwards, especially provocative forwards. And I don’t know what the rationale behind it is; probably it is perceived that if you are on internet and you don’t take part in any of these useless forwards then you don’t care enough.

I don’t have anything against forward, but I am against forwards which are not authentic and provocative, without any rationale whatsoever.

One of the most irritating forwards that I have received is regarding article 49-O, 

The email goes like this, and funnily I have these emails about two times every day and it goes like this.

"

Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the

1969 act, in section

"49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his

identity, get his finger

marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn't want

to vote anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly

notorious leaders have

never disclosed it. This is called "49-O".

Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a

candidate wins,

say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received "49-O" votes

more than 123, then

that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only

that, but the

candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest

the re-polling,

since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would

bring fear into

parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for

election. This would

change the way, of our whole political system... it is seemingly

surprising why the

election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....

this is a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India... show

your power,

expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful

than voting... so

don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote

49-O)."

What irritates me is that people dont even care to verify the contents before forwarding.

Did quite a bit of research to find that there is something called 49-o, which says that you may choose not to vote and inform your decision to electoral office. But that’s about it. Nothing like what is there in forwards.  I found a very useful thread on this here,

http://www.indianofficer.com/forums/indian-polity/1220-article-49-o-right-say-no.html

Also a nice write up came up in DNA as well

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1211098

Another very useful and informative blog.

http://www.upperstall.com/blogs/punjab-da-puttar/49-o-not-the-answer/

So I was wondering what is the use of the 49-O clause? And from what I understand it is in a way only to pressurize political parties to field better candidates. 

So request to all to not to forward this email or for the matter of fact any email, without verifying the contents. Because you might end up spreading wrong information. 

Cheers.