Reflecting his disenchantment with political parties contesting polls in the assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Shankar, an auto-rickshaw driver from Ambattur (a newly formed assembly constituency after delimitation) has decided to go for NOTA (none of the above) option refusing to vote for any candidate.

Till the last assembly polls, Shankar and his family were loyal voters of M Karunandihi’s DMK but not this time. Shankar is equally disenchanted with J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK. He says, “Neither Amma nor Aiyya (Karunanidhi) deserves to be voted and brought back to power. They both are corrupt.” Even People’s Welfare Front (PWF) cannot do anything much as they are projecting DMDK’s Vijayakanth as their chief ministerial candidate, who again has no leadership quality, adds Shankar.

“Jayalalithaa had promised digital metres for autos. And we heard that Rs 80 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. But where are those digital metres?” asks, Shankar in an angry tone.

As 234 assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu go to polls on May 16, people like Shankar express their unhappiness with the two major parties in the state.

Murugan, another auto-rickshaw driver has decided to opt for NOTA. He had even said no to cash or goods for vote, when offered from a political party, this election.

Kalpana, a resident of Manapakkam locality in Chennai and president of resident welfare association too has decided to opt for NOTA and has urged others in the apartment follow the same. “During floods we were the worst hit and no support came from any of the parties. We all were highly disappointed so we (all residents) of this apartment have decided to go for NOTA,” she says.