Much before even poll dates for the elections to the Manipur State Assembly was announced, it was mentioned in these columns that that it will be one of the most crucial elections that Manipur will undoubtedly undertake. There were valid reasons why the election would determine the future of several burning issues both within the State and also outside of it. It was also mentioned that the Manipur elections will be a referendum of sorts on the integration issue and therefore it was suggested that the United Naga Council as the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur should plan for the election in a manner that will effectively address the Naga issue and that it was important for the Nagas of Manipur to work in unison if at all they desired to achieve their stated political objective. It will now be in the fitness of things to study the end result after the hustle and bustle of electioneering has ended.
Of the eleven seats contested by the United Naga Council (UNC) consensus candidates, one seat each from Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel districts have been won while all the three Assembly Constituencies in Ukhrul district have been swept by the UNC consensus candidates. The other five UNC-backed candidates lost to their rivals. Nevertheless what should come as a bonus for the UNC and the new political organization under the banner of United Naga Democratic Alliance is that two other newly elected Naga independent MLAs have vouched their support to the United Naga Council common agenda. Eight out of the eleven seats under its kitty is a clear enough indication of the overwhelming support for the issues raised by the UNC. And it is now the responsibility of the Government of India to duly recognize the will of the people, which has been expressed in a peaceful and democratic manner.
The election result in the four hill district also reinforces the argument made earlier that one needs to distinguish the aspiration of the Nagas from the every day bread and butter issue. While there exists grievances of lop sided development, today the issue is no more an equation of majority-minority but one in which the Naga people inhabiting the four hills districts are seeking their identity rooted in the strong belief that their destiny is one of political affiliation with the larger Naga homeland and not political subjugation under the present dispensation at Imphal. And since India prides itself as the world’s largest democracy, the verdict of the Naga people must be honoured and respected in whatever agreement the Government of India works out through the Naga peace process.
Delhi must be cautioned that after having taken the democratic route of expression, failure to address the aspirations of the people will destroy whatever little goodwill that exists while spawning extreme elements that will seek to resort to arms and violence to achieve their stated objectives. Hopefully the Government of India’s political wisdom will prevent such a disturbing thing from happening. And now that people in the Naga Hills districts have voted overwhelming in support of the UNC consensus candidates, this mandate must now be translated into tangible political action at the highest policy decision making level in Delhi.
