With electioneering picking up in full swing across Nagaland, reports of cases of violence are also seeing an increase. The call by the church in the state for clean elections to shun violence and other malpractice during the elections did not have its desired effect in many areas. The violence continues although now it is in fewer number of places compared to that of other years. The inducement and the flow of alcohol are sure to continue in most parts of the state although all the political parties signed the 18-point pledge. (
Click here to know the 18-point pledge) However it is anybody’s guess that the incidences of violence are from areas where force is being used to secure votes against the spirit of democracy. So diktats in the name of various pseudo customary groups are issued to ensure votes for only one candidate from a khel/colony/village/area etc. There were also two points in the pledge that was included to curb election-related violence by supporters. One was the restriction about setting up ‘youth camps’. The other pledge was to restrict holding feasts, picnics, and processions. It is now clear that the areas where use of force was the intention the two pledges are being violated. The clean election campaign and its associated pledge is a moral issue as stated by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NPCC) with the onus being on the candidates and the voters. However the church body too might have been caught unawares in uncertainty that was created by the ‘solution not election’ campaign, which was launched just before the announcement of the assembly elections. The NBCC should also be reminded that of the many points in the pledge, a few points indicate that it still have some role to play in the forthcoming electioneering process than get involved in religion politics at the eleventh hour. All is not lost as there are very good signs of improvement from many areas of Nagaland. If not the inducement and alcohol, the use of force and violence at least needs to be curbed and the church needs to remind all about the pledge so that there is free and fair voting on the polling day.
