Clash between supporters, tomfoolery or what?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 24, 2012 -

It can be rightly said that the intensity of electioneering has been considerably lowered as compared to previous elections, at least outwardly but election related scuffles, conflicts and tussles are reported in the same frequency like in the past.

Keeping aside the prohibitions declared by insurgent groups, acts of resorting to strong-arm tactics and excessive use of muscle power have not diminished a bit.

At one instance, several bombs were planted and triggered at Irabot Memorial Hall at Lamlai just one day ahead of an election meeting at the same hall with an obvious intention to demolish the hall.

There were also reports of group clashes and scuffles between supporters of rival candidates in Wangjing Tentha AC even before the election process was formally initiated.

In the process, many people suffered injuries, properties worth several lakhs were destroyed and vehicles were set ablaze.

A few days back, many people suffered injuries in another scuffle at a meeting venue.

In the same manner, there were reports of firing, arrests and even fighting among siblings involving women too, in Mayang Imphal AC.

The scene is little different in hill districts.

Many supporters of D Korungthang suffered injuries when he was attacked by armed persons yesterday and another attack was repeated on the candidate contesting in Tengnoupal AC today, raising the number of victims.

Despite the claim that there was no reason to indulge itself in elections of India, some people including a cadre of NSCN-IM have been arrested by police in connection with abduction of supporters of a candidate, though the organisation itself might not be involved in the election process. Keeping aside the prohibitions declared by insurgent groups and other armed groups against political parties and candidates for myriad reasons, conflicts and clashes between rival workers is a matter of concern which one need to ponder with utmost seriousness.

One need not be reminded that the purpose for contesting elections is to become people's representatives.

Regardless of how many candidates contest in a constituency, only one would be elected.

Viewed in this perspective, there is no harm for the electorates to campaign and vote for candidates whom they considered to be the best.

But one cannot say by any yardstick that clashes and conflicts between rival supporters is a good sign.

The crux of the problem lies in imposing or attempting to impose one's choice on other people.

As people generally have diverse opinions and choices, imposition of one's will only breed conflict, ultimately leading to ugly scuffles, and this is what we are witnessing in the run up to the election.

Such scuffles and clashes result in death of not one but many political workers during election time.

It is understandable that rival candidates share little love between them and they often use all their wits and resources to belittle and defeat each other.

It's only natural for rival political parties to hail their own parties and attack the rival parties.

But people cannot overlook the fact that the same candidates who have been singing lofty praises of his/her party would change colour to join a rival party when he/she does not see any chance of getting ticket from his/her parent party or when he/she sees better opportunity in the rival party.

Again, rival candidates who used to spew venom against each other, inciting their supporters at the time of elections would become friends after elections, and at times the rival candidates would land in a single party and work together.

But the sad part is, the supporters who were polarised and antagonised at the time of elections would continue to hate each other for protracted periods.

Sometimes, there were clashes even to the extent of causing dead even after elections are over.

The implicit message which the general public should not miss is, conflicts and antagonism between rival political supporters mean very little to the candidates who ignited the same conflict and antagonism.

In the long run, it is the workers who stand to lose, not the candidates.

When the elections are over, many of the political supporters are left cheated and befooled.

Then why should we indulge in activities that would only make a fool of ourselves when there is nothing substantial to gain.