4Bs of Election Fever

Cornelius Lanah *

The hill districts (coloured) which would go to ADC polls on June 01 2015 :: Pix - TSE

With just nine days to go into ADC poll, the heat of election fever is certainly picking up across the hill districts of Manipur. Arguments about likes and dislikes of political parties, capabilities of candidates, roles of NSCN and the public being bribed for vote are never ending and it’s often fiery.

For NPF and its diehard fans, NPF is the saviour and solution to Naga problems. The rest are anti-naga and because of them Nagas will continue to live under the subjugation of the Indian Government and the Meiteis.

For INC and its age old fans, BJP is a communal force dictated by RSS & VHP and the banner lifted high by NPF ‘for the people of Naga & its solution’ is nothing but a hopeful joke that their grandsons will continue to tell, just like their grandfathers did to them.

For BJP and its newly acquired fans, INC is a dynasty politics who has lost the sense of solving Naga political issues and the ties between NPF and BJP could turn sore at New Delhi if NSCN continues to thrust aggression to vie for NPF candidates.

In the midst of these political criss-crosses there are 4 elements that are almost inseparable from election. I would like to call them as 4Bs of election fever.

The first B stands for Blessing: A politician who usually goes to Church 3 times in a year on the occasions of New Year, Easter and Christmas is often seen attending Church with a request to pray for success during election. In a similar way, a preacher who was invited and had gone to pray for a candidate goes on to pray for another candidate, each for victory in the same constituency! At the mass spoken prayer, the congregation roar in prayers with the choice of their candidate.

All I could think of is the movie God Must be Crazy and its dialogue…aiyaa-ya-ya-yah…aiyaa-ya-ya-yah… Had it been me in God’s place, I would be certainly confused which prayer to listen and who to grand victory. Thank God for his infinite wisdom to do justice to the prayers.

The second B stands for Bucks: Election is shopping time for candidates and for general public it means business. Relationship of families, pride of man, unions and associations are all up for grab at a price during election. More bucks well spent would mean more man, more unions and associations fending the candidate in the front line.

Alas! Your vote has been bought at a price before election. Now if you want to seek your candidate’s signature or need a favour to be done, you have to pay for it. You won’t be brought twice until next election. How about getting a job! Don’t even talk about it; just be ready with some lakhs.

The third B stands for Bottles: Election is here, come let’s drink and make merry for we know tomorrow it would be from our pockets. Foreign bottles which you’ve never seen or bottles which you have earlier fancied are right on your table with plenty of meat to eat. Let us eat and drink from a candidate today and go to another tomorrow. Only heaven knows who you voted for!

What a boost for the business of Bottles and meat during election! No wonder why nights are noisier during election. No wonder why fights and arguments are more during election and no wonder why some would even forget to wake up in time on the polling day. After all, where will the effects go when you’ve engulfed them!

The fourth B stands for Bullets: Right is not might but bullet is might. Decision is not yours but for bullets to take. You simply follow orders! Vote for the proposed candidate or be prepared to be beaten black and blue, or even risk to be crippled with bullets.

How long should bullet continue to silence individual rights? I am afraid; the wrath of the people may soon outnumber stocks of bullets if it continues with its might to deny adults to exercise franchise in a democratic way.

When fever is gone there won’t be any tender care by your bed. No more delicious food and no more spoon feeding. You will be back to the mercies of your own knee. You have to rise up early and carry out your daily chores, just like you were before. So to avoid been caught by election fever, make sure you wear something warm and take some tabs to boost your immune system. For those who are already down with fever, here’s a wish for your speedy recovery. Get well soon!