John Basho Pou
You go to any place, be it, a tea stall, pan shops, bus stands, or any social circuit for a chit-chat, the only buzz you can hear now is prediction of the outcome of the election. And the post-election environment compels you to be a ‘political fortune-teller’. Anywhere you go, you will find psephologists around the Senapati town, with a piece of paper in the pocket containing a rough figure of total votes of each candidate, and predicting the outcome of the election, and trying to break the record of Prannoy Roy (NDTV) who have accurately predicted the result of the 1994 General Election. Prediction of election result dominant the mind-space of the senapatians, and become the talk of the town. And being the second time observer on the State Election in my homeland, the approach, people attitude, and the way people participate the democratic exercise are not very different from the past elections. And that’s what one observed in the 9th Manipur State Legislative Assembly Election this time. And there are important elements have been missed out from the whole system which should, actually, be the top priorities.
Election without issues:
When the fate of a candidate should, actually, be depend on the principles, manifestoes or issues s(he) projected, and supported by the electorates of his or her constituency, the first rule of the game (issues) and the most significant component of the election system has been driven backseat. If I am not wrong, in almost all the campaign kick-off functions, the only one thing I have learnt is rhetoric and flowery speeches by the candidates and blow of their own trumpet of their vote-bank and chance of victory with short-sighted political vision. The top most priority of the commoners or voters seems to be out of subject as far as Senapati’s constituencies are concerned. Issues like 2001 Census Report controversy which has been the most- talk- about issue of the Senapati district before the election has been evaporated from the head of the candidates and public as well. The only issue publicly discussed and campaign was by UNC projecting their own Independent candidates for the cause of Naga people.
And other issues like health care, education, unemployment and poverty are also given least consideration by the candidates. And in spite of the fact, electorates or the public are blindly voting for these representatives to the Manipur State Assembly. And these are the leaders who will bring changes through the corridor of political power to the people at home. And forgetting the issues, most of the voters are convinced through door-to-door campaign by their own relatives or friends. And what they actually believe here is “family first, society next”.
And the Voters are…….
As election being a game for every one who has Franchise Right, the democratic participants in the election here in the Senapati is worth-noting.
(a) First, the intellectuals or educated class of electorates who choose their representatives through the prism of issues or principles of the candidates. Under this category, most of them are unemployed youths and above matriculation who are waiting for the opportunity (election) as their ticket to life sustainability and survival. Why wait for election? Because of the fact that, no matter how meritorious and intelligent you may be, you need to have an MLA or a Minister to get a job in Manipur. That’s the rule of the game here. That’s the system you will have to join so as to survive in Manipur. And other educated section of people like NGOs, Government servants and intellectuals also do their part to get extra-funds, promotion, and take up projects through political influence respectively.
(b) Secondly, farmers or illiterate commoners are another group of voters who form the majority of the vote-bank. Most of them vote for any candidate who offer them handsome of money at the time of election, and don’t care about what comes after election. They sell their vote to any candidate who offer them maximum amount, no matter who candidate is. This is obvious when I asked a middle-aged farmer who he would vote for; he answered candidly, “I will vote for any one who pays me the most. I don’t care what will come after election. I don’t believe politician who make tall promises now and don’t keep their words after election. And you see what I got from the previous MLA? Just nothing, although I voted for him. So I better get some now than never after.”
(c) Thirdly, Capitalists or political benefactors take election as commercial game, and right time to gamble with their wealth. Contractors, business tycoons, and haves pour in their wealth assisting their candidate financially at the time of election, and get lion’s share or a jackpot after they got elected to power. This section of electorate are another backbone in the political fight as the gravity of losing or winning lies with the financial position of a candidate in the rural election where money talk louder than conscience of an individual.
(d) Fourthly, opportunists and political black sheep are also another interesting section of voters who take chance upon the political situation to mint out pocket money from every candidate contesting from their constituency. They are, as I have witnessed, voters in disguise who go door to door, candidate to candidate promising them their votes and support. They are also used by candidate as political mafias to the extent of vandalizing the environment and indulge in criminal activities like capturing EVMs or ballot boxes in support of a particular candidate.
Where Money talks & Muscles flex
The first two priorities that strike the minds of an intending candidate is money and muscle power. When a candidate has both, he or she is sure to wine the fight. Issues and manifestoes are treated the least important and sidelined by both candidates as voters can be easily pressurized, and their votes can be bought here, as muscle power and guns rules the heads. And their rights and justice bow in respect and in submission to the threat from these unwelcome elements. As far as Senapati is concerned, Rs. 2000 to 3000 is enough to win the votes of illiterate and uneducated electorates, and even influential educated voters are bought for Rs.20, 000 to 30,000 approximately. Candidates – UGs nexus is another main factor that determines the strength and might in the political arena. UGs are used as the instruments and ticket to victory.
True and dynamic leaders missing
The development of a constituency depend on the way how democratic representative performs and represent the public both in and out of the State Assembly, and bring changes to a society when the right leaders redressed the issues which are relevant among the electorates. Every political representative has a task to carry the image of his own people by living up to the expectation and call of the changing time and space. And for this, outdated ideologies and political narrow mindsets are now things of the past. Brushing aside those dynamic, visionary, and principle leaders with humble spirit who are the needs of the hour, the public in the rural areas still try to fill the old wine into a new bottle. Usually, most of the Candidates, as of now, are of the elites, and projected not for the development or issues, but for self-benefits, fame and pride. Leaders of the ordinary commoners who would bring changes to the grass-root level are missing from the picture.
Online & sms campaigns, less expense and less traveling
Unlike previous elections, mobile connectivity helps rural election to a great extend. Gone are the days when candidates have to travel miles after miles, village to village on their campaign, wasted lots of precious time before election convincing voters, and gathering supports, but in this 9th State Assembly election, mobiles connects the voters and candidates, and save time, money, and energy. Sms are sent to people around sharing anything ranging from candidates to prediction of election result. And issues are discussed which are utmost priority of the public. With the help of internet and chat zone on net, online campaigns are also done by internet users.
What has really confused the conscience of the public in the Naga-dominant constituencies before the election, and while choosing their own candidate, was the intervention of the Naga United Council with their election campaign, picking up ‘consensus candidates’ at the eleven hour, in support of the Indo-Naga Peace Process. Till the last hour before the election, especially Naga public were in the fix whether to vote for any candidate they wish to or only for consensus candidate. And the other Independent Candidates who have already signed the UNC’s Declaration Paper, and who were also in the fray finally, were also once confused, whether or not, they would be given chance by UNC to join the game apart from Consensus candidates. But though other political and regional party candidate, including Naga independent candidates were restricted to contest, however, against the UNC’s tide, they all went ahead and people voted for them too.
In Senapati, especially in the Naga-dominant constituencies churned out only two main political parties namely, Congress (INC) and Independent candidates who are in fray and fight each other neck to neck. The Congress (INC) candidates with development- oriented campaign, who withstood against all odds and brickbats from the UNC’s campaign against them, still gain people support, and their followers are mostly development-minded youths and intellectuals who believes in sea-change in a society through development. Whereas, on the hand, the principle behind the other Independent candidates backed by the UNC is for the Naga Integration and in support of Indo-Naga Peace process downgrading the development, as Paul Leo, President of UNC once said, “Development is a secondary thing in the context of present Naga politics. People should first realize what is blocking our development. The top priority of Naga people at this juncture is not development, but our cause”. And finally, if one goes by public speculation on the aftermath of the election, the UNC’s Consensus candidates have got very slim chance of winning, due to the fact, that all parties including those Independent candidate who have signed the Declaration Paper have tried to elbow them out of the arena. This election is, indeed, a litmus-test for the public and UNC. And the outcome of the vote-count on the 27th Feb will reveal the true colour. So now, the question is how far the outcome of the 9th Manipur State Legislative Assembly will have impact on the life of the thousands of electorates in the Senapati district. And that answer is still blowing in the wind.
