Citizens who do not vote in the upcoming Nagaland Assembly election do not have the moral right to complain about the performance of the government for the next five years, said Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Sachin Jaiswal, maintaining that “the government we get is the government we deserve”.
He was addressing students during the integrated communication and outreach programme on Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) organised by Central Bureau of Communication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Field Office Kohima, in collaboration with Pranabananda Women’s College at the institute’s auditorium in Dimapur.
Jaiswal said new voters should take a pledge to vote. Informing that Lhomithi polling station has the lowest turnout of voters (58%) in the last election, he urged the citizens to exercise their democratic right to democracy so that they will have the right to complain as well.
He also shared that the Election Commission of India had given ample time to decide whom to vote.
He shared that, for a free and fair election, a lot depend on the voters as the election administration and machinery can only provide logistic support.
He also stressed on how the election commission of India takes the initiative and all the state officials become its functionaries every general election.
When the model of conduct is announced, we are here to ensure, as directed by the Election Commission of India, that every citizen exercises voting in a free and fair manner, he said.
He also updated that tremendous amount of seizure, including cash and drugs amounting to more than INR 6 crore, has been made in Dimapur since the imposition of Model Code of Conduct in the state.
During the programme, Principal of PWC, Santosh Kumar, delivered the welcome address, while private registered Troupe of Central Bureau of Communication performed a cultural item and a song performed by PWC students.