A voter of Dimapur I A/C speaks from the grass root level!
Kedi Haralu
As a twenty-four carat Dimapur I A/C resident, politics and elections have always been more of a bane then a boon to the voters, for Candidates that are elected from this Constituency has always been ether in the opposition or too old to be useful, thus giving their officers and near and dear ones all the advantage. It is also a fact that Dimapur 1 A/C is the “most unpredictable” constituency, plus harboring any Tom, Dick and Harry with excess funds, mostly through illegal and unfair means and never hard earned, thus it usually is a constituency for individuals like Shibu Sorens and Lalu Prasads. History will prove what I am saying and not otherwise.
This time voters have had enough, and regardless of what, are prepared to elect the Candidate with these qualities:
1. They should be from the Ruling party, so that if elected they can be more helpful and useful.
2. Age (of the candidate) is no bar, but must be educated, and has a broad minded mindset. Broad mindedness develops more creative and innovative ideas of development and change.
3. the citizens of the A/C would also want a Candidate to focus on this A/C after elections, for the A/C was more of an orphaned A/C, having to always depend on legislators of Dimapur - II, - III and Ghaspani - I for NPF and Ghaspani - II for the Congress. Other parties like BJP and JD (U) first needs to clean up their own backyard, before venturing into any elections (I say this for their own good).
4. Yes, money will play a significant factor, but the main factor for a winning candidate will be his abilities, his education and his attitude, regardless of tribe or religion or culture.
5. This by-election any factions interfering will surely backfire on the Candidate himself, for the citizens of this constituency has had enough, especially of goondagiri and muscle power. “Yes, Citizens will go according to the factional Dictats, but inside the polling booth it is just you and the ballot paper.”
6. Post election promises will surely count this time, for it I will be the winning Candidates duty to keep his promise for he will have to face another election in a few months time.
7. Dimapur-I being an A/C of no majority tribes, like Mokokchung town Constituency, trying to play the tribal card will not work in this election, but instead will have a drastic “back-fire results.”
8. It was also rather humiliating and disrespect towards the A/C, since Candidates came out of the woodwork to contest as they usually do during the Lok Sabha elections. To my knowledge, only one candidate was doing his groundwork, and meeting the grass root party members, which are and which will ultimately be the winning factor. Although he is not from this A/C, who is? We have all settled here from our native towns and villages, plus the early settlers want a Candidate that is young, energetic and most important from the ruling party.
All these factors go in the favor of Atomi Zhimomi and it is his ability to communicate with the grass root which will be amongst the main factor for his victory. I have been asking around, especially as Land owner (family property but now sold off), this time it is going to be rather one-sided, for it is usually the youth that does the groundwork, hence Bank Colony, Police Colony, Haralu Colony, Power house Colony, Fire Brigade Colony, Railway line Colony, Kevichüsa Market area and also most parts of Golaghat road and Gorapatti are in the favor of one Candidate, Atomi Zhimomi. Other candidates and parties will refute this, but they can refute this in their own Constituency and not interfere in the politics of this Constituency.
In Conclusion, where was the Candidate and party plus other parties when we needed them most? This trend of showing up only during election time is not encourage-able any more, for voters are no more fools, ready to give up their prestige and pride just for a few hundreds of Rupees. As time has changed, so have our principles and ethics. Mark my word, the result of the ballot is rather predictable, until and unless there’s a major political shift/scene which effects the State as a whole. Let the ballot prove this article, for even though their be a counter by anybody or any party, I will never get into slugging match, for it is not worth it, but let the ballot prove whether I am right or wrong.
