Sir,
On behalf of the Bharatya Janata Party, Churachandpur District, in the world’s largest democracy, and to exercise the freedom of expression endowed by the Constitution of India, I would like to draw your kind attention on the acts of commissions and omissions in the recently concluded 10th Legislative Assembly elections in Manipur.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) initiatives in introducing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVM’s) in the recently concluded 10thLegislative Assembly elections in Manipur had been appreciated particularly, in view of the fact that electors from the hills could cast their valuable votes freely and fairly unlike the preceding years. Nevertheless Sir, the hope, belief and faith of the people were short-lived as Manipur have witnessed rampant electoral malpractices as usual despite the much-hyped “MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT” (MCC). Indeed, it is unfortunate that the governments of the day (both State and the Centre) failed to uphold the MCC and as usual ‘Money and Muscle’ powers determined the ‘leaders’ (Members of Legislative Assembly). Such MCC have been deliberately and systematically broken by the entity/elements which created it. This is another serious example of institutional injustice manipulated by the State. In a land where natural justice, procedure established by law and the ‘rule of law can simply be botched up, there is no rationale for drafting rules and regulations like MCC. And in such a situation, it is hard to envisage the future destiny of Manipur political system.
The synthesis arising out of ‘behind the scene’, act of commissions and omissions are “nasty, poor and brutish” like in the Hobessian state of nature. On the other hand, no wonder in such games of dirty politics, entity under the SoO, once again, exerted their forces/powers in booth capturing, bogus voting, impersonation and the likes, let alone the ECI mischievously manipulated the EVM’s Code/Sim Card in favour of the INC’s candidates. Alas! the voters could not find their votes as and when the election results were declared in view of the fact that ‘genuine votes’ have not been calculated, which resulted in the election of candidates, which majority of the people did not cast their votes for. The denouement of which resulted in the election of forty two (42) INC candidates. In the Assembly seats of 60 members, there is hardly a chance for opposition party, the watchdogs of the government to encounter with the ruling party. In the event where the opposition party could not play its effective role, the future political system of Manipur is hard to envisage. The recently concluded election outrightly negates democracy and more importantly the free will of the people. Moreover, in a system where representatives are selected, if not elected by few individuals (the powers that be) it is outlandish, derogatory for the Mother India to tag herself the world’s largest democracy. In the events of such electoral malpractices, the aggrieved electorates/candidates petitioned your good offices to call for re-polls. However, the Election Commission of India turned a deaf ear to the repeated pleas, requests and cries of most of the electorates, who pleaded for re-poll. Yet it conducted re-poll (s) in some selected polling booths, where electoral malpractices crossed beyond the limit, which could not be concealed.
The whole world know that Manipur is not one of the least corrupted states in India, the cancer of which is deep-rooted, systematized and glorified by all-right from the peon/chowkidar to the top echelon in all government departments; and the political culture of which –right from attaining statehood in 1972 till date-have been devoid of truth and justice. It was believed that those bogus votes would have to be invalidated when photos were verified/authenticated in the presence of ECI, CEO and R/O as it was breaches of Model Code of Conduct issued by the Election Commission of India. While the ‘Guidelines’ provisioned for re-polling in the cases of such malpractices, the authorities and the powers that be deviated from the path of truth, justice and the established Constitutional acts and procedures at the last hour, which resulted in the illegitimated election of most of the INC Candidates. Such type of government is hard to differentiate from dictatorship/authoritarian form of government in the medieval period. Thus non-Congress parties remain the worst victims, hapless as it is apprehensive that all of their leaders may have been bought.
Sir, the world’s lengthiest Constitution, under article 324 provisioned the ECI to uphold the values and principles of neutrality and justice, the unblemished institution had been highly glorified by citizens of India. However, it is unfortunate that it allegedly compromised its integrity in the recently concluded Manipur Legislative Assembly where, not surprisingly only the EVMs were used and rampant electoral malpractices occurred. However, I could imagine where you were in an extricable situation-pulls and pushes by the powers that be at the eleventh hour in their attempt to make “Kings” and “Queens” to govern the people of Manipur. It indicates that the Election Commission of India cannot be relied despite its established Constitutional procedures, norms and principles. Indeed, it is unfortunate to have buy-able/sell-able CEO, R/O’s, Observers and all other electoral machineries. Indeed, as long as EVM’s are used in the electoral process, INC (Indian National Congress) would ever gain absolute majority. In the events of tampering of EVM’s, justice has been obnoxiously and deliberately pushed to the wall. The INC has been one of the most corrupted parties, betrayer of the voters as it is not trustworthy unlike the non-Congress parties. If any candidates can get elected by tampering the EVM’s, why should unnecessary troubles be caused to the general public in casting their votes? Rather it is prudent to let the ECI, CEO’s and RO’s decide and select the ‘leaders’ of the choice of political elites in the land of Mahatma, and the largest democracy in the world!
In a land where natural justice, procedure established by law and the ‘rule of law’ can simply be botched up, it is hard to envisage the future destiny of Manipur political system. After all is said and done in the “Strong Room” this writer do not urge your good offices to call for “Recall” if not re-poll. Rather it is my sincere appeal to all my fellow citizens of India to stand united in removing a “moth” in the Indian democracy.
Let me conclude by quoting Carl Sagan, Cosmos: “History is full of people who out of fear, or ignorance, or lust for power has destroyed knowledge of immeasurable value which truly belongs to us all. We must not let it happen again.”
Thanking you for sparing your most valuable time in reading.
Faithfully,
Sd/-
(Lhunkhojang Haokip),
President,
Bharatya Janata Party,
Churachandpur District,
Manipur.
