Call for conscientious voting Power of the people
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Even as Manipur continues to burn with no sign of let up in the clashes between the Kukis and the Nagas, one organisation has been steadily carrying on a campaign of its own to sensitise the people to the immense responsibility they have as electorate. Manipur Youth League (MAYOL) has been at the forefront in addressing a number of social issues and prominent amongst them is the drive to sensitise the people to the immense responsibilities they have as voters. And it is according to this line of thought that MAYOL has gone ahead to underline that solution to many of the issues besieging the place lies in the way politics is perceived and practised in the land. The move of MAYOL could not have come at a better time, coming as it has a few months before Manipur goes to polls in the early part of 2027. That is if one goes by the poll calendar. For decades, people have been talking about the need to elect the right candidate, all resting on the premise that the people get the type of Government they deserve. This is where it becomes very, very important for all to closely study not only the antecedents of any particular candidate but also the party under which ticket he or she is contesting the election. For decades the accepted but unwritten rule is ‘the party which is in power at Delhi, is best placed to fulfil the aspirations of the people here.’ This is precisely the reason why Manipur votes for either the BJP or the Congress on the basis of which party is in power at Delhi. And it on this that candidates of the Big Two will be seeking to go to the people for votes. A look at the equation should tell something profound. Given the political reality of the day, particularly with reference to Manipur, the voters may more often see either of the Big Two as the only viable party to back. Meaning it is only either one of the two which can be in the seat of power and rule the State without much of a hitch. It was not always like this. Seniors and elders will still remember the days when the Manipur People’s Party was an alternate to many. Then came the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM), whose support was thought essential in any calculation to form the Government or hold on to power. And MSCP too. However these are things of the past and at the moment the only viable alternative to the Big Two seems to be the Meghalaya based NPP. Why is this so is a question which should have been dealt with a long time back, but it is encouraging to see a voluntary organisation like MAYOL coming to the forefront to carry the message that the people have a responsibility to decide who rules them or who gets to form the Government. This is where the call for conscientious voting has become all the more crucial. The generally accepted thought is, money is important, very important in contesting the election and given the way how things have been allowed to drift down the decades, the first question people usually ask whenever anyone demonstrates an interest in contesting the election is, ‘How much money does he have ?’ (Peisa Kyam Pairagey, Mabo).
This reality is again best reflected in conversations between any two individuals which run along the line, ‘So how much is the going rate in A Constituency. Is it as much as in B Constituency ?’ Talks between two friends and while not much importance may be given to such exchange of words, it reflects the reality, a reality which will decide how the elected governs the place. Admitting the realities and responding to the realities is the responsibility of the people. The question however is whether the people as a whole are ready to even sit down and think about the reality, which is ugly. The focus of the people should be on development and how Manipur continues to wait even for the most basic of necessities. Why is it that the Government has still not been able to ensure adequate water supply to the people ? How about power supply ? How about education, particularly the education of youngsters once they cross the Class 12 stage ? How about healthcare ? Why is it that people feel indebted enough to go to the press and insert an advertisement or two to proclaim that no money was given to land a Government job ? These are questions which the people should be raising within themselves and should ideally place before the intending candidates. Actuating a bit of what has been said here will go a long way in making the election more meaningful.
This reality is again best reflected in conversations between any two individuals which run along the line, ‘So how much is the going rate in A Constituency. Is it as much as in B Constituency ?’ Talks between two friends and while not much importance may be given to such exchange of words, it reflects the reality, a reality which will decide how the elected governs the place. Admitting the realities and responding to the realities is the responsibility of the people. The question however is whether the people as a whole are ready to even sit down and think about the reality, which is ugly. The focus of the people should be on development and how Manipur continues to wait even for the most basic of necessities. Why is it that the Government has still not been able to ensure adequate water supply to the people ? How about power supply ? How about education, particularly the education of youngsters once they cross the Class 12 stage ? How about healthcare ? Why is it that people feel indebted enough to go to the press and insert an advertisement or two to proclaim that no money was given to land a Government job ? These are questions which the people should be raising within themselves and should ideally place before the intending candidates. Actuating a bit of what has been said here will go a long way in making the election more meaningful.