Tali Longkumer (IAS Rtd)
There are hardly few precious days left to elect 60 members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly for which more than 150 aspirants are in the ‘Frying Pan’ vying for the coveted posts. Within a week some will be made instant Kings or Queens and sadly some will become paupers. The new Kings and Queens will start purchasing buildings and land, while the losers will be made to sell buildings and land. The winners will instantly come under the limelight while the losing faces will disappear from the scene without even a farewell. It is an opportune time for money lenders to make huge profits by lending money as presently there are many aspirant’ borrowers waiting in the queue. The battle lines have now been drawn in every constituencies for the final assault either to do or die. Almost mirroring what wars must have been like in the olden days, every citizen will take part in the battle of ballots!
Within a week Kohima will be crowded with people drawn from every nook and corner of Nagaland. These will include every leader, aspirants, tribal representatives, party sympathisers and opportunists. Hotel and Guest Houses will make brisk business. There may not be much headache on the issue of choosing a leader but perhaps there may be some tremor while forming the new Government. Hopefully this time around there will not be a need to form the New Government from the Kazaringa guest house. Who will be inducted in the new Ministry is presently more of a question than an answer, though I already suspect some leaders might be carrying their list of Shadow cabinet in their pockets, gesticulating and commanding their Lieutenants to be loyal. Nevertheless, cut throat competition for eking out a birth in the Ministry will be some of the prickly issues and unavoidable burden that will give the new leaders sleepless nights in the coming days.
The new Ministry will be constituted after dumping cores and cores of rupees in a State that is one of the poorest and smallest States in India. Why worry anyway! Don’t we claim often that our culture and society is unique?
Election is a time that comes once in 5 years for the Voters to make some extra pocket money. Most of them are either paid, bribed or awarded while some go to the extent of making exuberant demands. Again, why worry! The attitude being- it is better to make hay while the sun shines. Many in fact would want the election to come every year. Because it has become a norm for voters to consider payment manifesto more important than the party manifesto as they have witnessed that party manifesto will disappear as soon as election is over.
The Debate on the issue of Clean Election will continue long after the conduct of election. Presently this issue is hotly discussed in the seating rooms whereas, in the inner rooms heavy payments are made in silence. Of all the things said and done, let us not forget that though the constitution provides a number of Scheduled Tribe Concessions, let us remember that before God the All Mighty Father there is only one Constitution provided…God will bless those that dispenses justice and punish those that deny them. May God’s Justice prevail.
