Congress vigil essential to expose Govt misconduct
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 10, 2022 -

CHIEF minister N Biren's nonchalant quip on requirement or expenditure of huge amount of money by candidates, who have a chance of winning elections, seems to have invigorated the Congress party to settle a score or two after it suffered a rout in the recent assembly election.

Even if the public feel uninterested with the Congress party raking up the issue and demanding that the police authorities do the needful to drag the chief minister as well as the triumphant BjP candidates to the court of law for they are well aware about howmoney could sway the neutral voters and ultimately become the deciding factor in case of a tight contest, it is understandable that the Congress would be keen to give at-least a shot and embarrass the BJP government.

The public need no reminding that contemporary electoral politics is off-limit for individuals who aren't excessively wealthy as is evident from the contest generally limited among candidates who have the resources to keep the voters in cheerful mood.

Moreover, people are fully aware that the cash-for-vote trend is not a recent phenomenon but has been deeply entrenched in the electoral system since decades.

Regardless of the extensive campaigns carried but by the election conducting authorities in the run-up to assembly and parliamentary polls to involve the voters in cleansing corruption from the system, the fact remains that money and muscle power, the former in particular in Manipur's context, has been ineradicable.

Consequently, many now are of the view that the lure or money would continue to be the deciding factor in any elections.

Nevertheless, it is but natural for the Congress spokespersons, who on Sunday tongue-lashed at the chief minister N Biren for admitting in a public platform huge spending made by candidates, to demand that authorities concerned should take action against the chief minister and launch investigation into actual expenditures made by the winning BjP nominees.

The Congress duo, however, appears to have missed the point that the chief minister had also advised his ministerial colleagues and party MLAs at the same event not to try to recoup the money spent in election, which could be construed as asking party's ministers and legislators to serve the state and people with due diligence.

On the other-hand, the public would be hoping that the Congress party takes the case to its logical end instead of feasting on the chief minister's casual comments on money spent by MLAs during election to remain in the limelight.

It is hoped that the Congress leaders would have the audacity and resolve to expose all graft cases and drag corrupt elements to the court of law so as to at-least minimise the depressing trend of only those from the creamy section of the society becoming the lawmakers.

While it could be safely stated that CM Biren and his colleagues would now be extremely careful in their speeches and acts, it is commendable that the Congress party is keeping a close tap on the government, playing its part as a constructive opposition and not relenting from exposing misdemeanours, if any, on the part of the establishment.