Whose election is it anyway?

Morung Express News
Mokokchung | February 25 

The party’s over and now it’s back to monotonous norms. Election in Nagaland usually means free alcohol and easy money until polling day. This 2013 state assembly election was by and large no different than previous elections. Many citizens are concerned about the long-term ill effects of free alcohol and easy money during elections and questions are being raised on how the society would limp back to normalcy.

There are reports that young people earned Rs. 500 every night they spent at the party camps, usually called youth camps. There were declarations of support to a candidate or defection from one party to another in the run-up to the election. These defections were usually taken as a sign that the person had taken some money from the candidate or the political party. It was learnt that some people were paid to the tune of fifty thousand and even lakhs for their support. Election Day, also meant easy money for those who dared to cast proxy votes. It is learnt that proxy voters got (between Rs 500-1000 or more) for each proxy vote cast.

In one Mokokchung district village, supporters were issued free helmets to protect their heads from stones being hurled by the opposition. But now with the elections over, the question is what will the people do? The past few weeks have seen much hectic politicking and tension with reports of pre-poll and even post-poll violence. The people, although neighbors or clansmen or even families, have been divided along party lines and have fought against each other for the sake of their candidate. This tension and ill-will continues to exist.

“Election is not good for us. It is causing so much hatred between people and villages. It’s sad that when people are slowly coming together, this election is making the people divide which takes a long time to bring them back together,” commented Lima Longkumer, a young entrepreneur and writer. There is also a deep concern about the effects of election on the students who are going to sit for the Board exams which were postponed until March because of the election.

“For many weeks, school and college students have been spending days and nights at (political) youth camps drinking free wine and earning easy money. Surely most of them haven’t been studying for their exams. Surely, many students will fail in the final exams,” said a primary school teacher posted in Phangsang.

Others are also seriously concerned about the side-effects of earning easy money during election since there will be no more easy money now. “Look those who don’t even earn Rs 200 a day are using thousands of rupees which they received during the election. That money will be spent, and now with the elections over, they won’t get the easy money, so many might turn thieves for want of easy money,” said another school teacher. 

There are also concerns that many will become alcoholics, too, because of the free alcohol they consumed during the election period.

The Clean Election Campaign initiated by the Church had some positive impact this election, but failed to translate into concrete steps. Almost all politicians openly gave lip service to the ABAM Clean Election drive, but failed to implement it. However, the hope remains that the initiative will bear fruit one day. “The Church should take a proper research as to why people want easy money and wine during elections. Simply giving out some do’s and don’ts won’t make much of a difference. If it has to be effective, then they should do more, much more, like creating mass awareness and educating the public at the grass-root level. But surely, the bold initiative will bear fruit one day,” said an educated youth who wished not to be identified.

Everyone is waiting eagerly to see the election results which are scheduled to be announced on February 28, 2013. Amidst the anxious post-election climate, it will take some time for the election scars to heal, since intense animosity and anger has been generated. In light of the situation the people should start asking, “Whose election is it anyway?” If it is truly for the good of the people, then election reforms needs to be introduced immediately.