Clean election campaign had played like a mighty sword that axed out many political related social evils out of compulsion that was practised from time immemorial since the inception of electioneering process in Nagaland. It was and will indeed continue to be a weapon for clean electioneering system in the near future by cleaning the rampant election malpractices in our state. In my opinion, clean election campaign witnessed a little success this time but surely sowed the seeds for future transparency and accountability by changing voters mindset and by ushering in a new era of selecting a leaders through peaceful and capability of the leader. This time we had additionally added machine called VVPAT (Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trial) that can prove voting transparency for the voters without bias and prejudice. It is indeed much fairer from the next election if the election commission could allot a venue by organising open debate whereby the intending candidates of the respective constituency can go on debating against each other (like US Presidential election) basing on their versatility and desirability of the subjects in order to impress the voters through their God gifted oratory and witty political Will so that the voters can vote accordingly as per their visions of statement.
Recently concluded election of 13th NLA witnessed ups and downs together with a slogan ‘Clean Election’ in every nook and corner of voter’s doorsteps along with clean election flag that stood proudly and supported it too by signing on the pledges form from the respective Churches. The Nagaland Churches from all the denominations on their part had executed selflessly prior to three years ahead of election scheduled saving so many precious life’s and properties even though two persons had died from election related violence. This time also, I request the churches and the mass civil societies not to lose hope and rather start initiatives of clean election in order to be more practical and effective in the next five years ahead of election. Hats off and grand salute to Nagaland Churches (From top to bottom churches) for taking initiatives of clean election and for safer Nagaland.
I guess many voters from just concluded election had decided not to take money from the candidates and indeed had prepared genuine demands for development if got elected. To those voters whose votes were not sold for money but whose supporting candidate could not make through to the chairs of 60 member NLA be never lose hope because this is just a beginning and stepping stones to root out corruption in our land and indeed it’s a great overcome from the test of temptation thus, maintaining the decorum of clean election campaign-‘One Man One Vote’ coming into a reality.
It was also a manoeuvring task for the election officials to complete the task of hectic assigned election duty. Along with the strong 40,000 thousand security personnel mostly from the central forces had performed their assigned duties for the peaceful conduct of election and safeguarding every voting related machines in front of them. Hence their performance was marvellous and applaudable. Despite heavy security arrangement + CCTV and WEB CASTING installed in every polling stations, there were reports of booth capturing, damaging of EVM materials, proxy voting, excess voting, threatening the polling officials by holding them up till dusk even after the stipulated time was over and the most common being pelting of stones against each other by the rival political party even after voting was over. Some officials had even misused their profession by possessing fake voters slip ultimately leading to re-polling. There were also reports that some voters they got around Rs. 2,000/-(two thousand) to Rs. 50,000/-(fifty thousand) per vote (this statement is not authenticated but heard directly saying from the voters) and thereby led to sell of one’s precious vote either by gullibility or by bullying from the candidates. In such a state of happening we cannot neatly say that we had adhered to the proclamation laid down by the churches with a slogan ‘Clean Election’.
To sum up; clean election slogan was a voice from the churches for a better and prosperous Nagaland that stood up against proxy voting, selling of one’s vote, booth capturing, threat and intimidation, creating ruckus situation by using weapons, using of money and muscle power, having youths camp for election purpose and clearly insisting on ‘ONE MAN ONE VOTE’. Threatening the voters by creating fearful atmosphere in and around polling station by using guns and bombs together with couping of the polling station is a direct threat to the existence of the very fabric of democracy and it directly encroach one’s fundamental rights. In order to make this clean election come into reality, let us together accept the defeat by minting it and work together unflinchingly from now on with all the churches till the next general election (i,e year 2023) to make our land free and fair state by denouncing fearful means of unwanted political tsunami.
