Criminalisation of politics and politicisation of criminals are not only the features in mainland India but more so in the northeastern States. Stories of both capturing, rigging, bogus voting, impersonation, misuse of religions, caste and tribal identities, and various other corrupt practises made the greatest democracy a failure.

In democratic state, it is not her economic achievements, neither her military might that count in its politically set-goal but the equal and just enjoyment of the rights its gives to her citizens that is significant in the end.

In Manipur, none of the reserved constituencies is exceptional in terms of mal-practises.

Now, almost all the main tribal groups in the state have their respective armed organisations. More interesting is their affinity and closer attachment they connive with a smaller identity - clan.

It is more aggravating that this tendency shall continue unabated in the months and years to come unless our electoral systems are cleansed and streamlined. The root of this emerging trend is not far to seek.

Every election becomes election engaged by the rich and the dominant tribe/clan. The constitutional provision of reserved constituencies has now definitely turned out to be reserved ones for a particular clan or tribe.

Surprisingly, this foul-means remain being perpetuated so until today even after our knowledge are increased and after more educated youths are coming forth on the stage of the days.

Why? The poor and uneducated ones who constituted the margina-lized sections of the society remain unattended to all through these years.

Their economic status does not just remain unchanged but is rather demeaning day by day. There are unequal distributions of developmental schemes and manipulations of employment opportunities in the hands of the elected representatives.

These distressing socio -political conditions make them a soft target for manipulation and overshadowing their rights from the money-laden politicians. The bolder groups would choose to resort to walking away from the mainstream that is worrying us today.

Among the Kukis, their irrationally cherished customs known as chieftain-ship has turned the political rights of the villagers more than in topsy-turvy condition.

The chief either boldly and bluntly bogus-votes or orders his villagers to vote for candidate of his choice. Violating this order is penalty in one form or another even to the extend of shooing aw-ay the recalcitrant from the village permanently.

But, recent experiences show- that a new development has gained momentum. This new show-up is again not a trend to be happy about. The Chiefs' powers are declining and in its place, money-power and power of the unsolicited armed groups may be positioned.

This development is the consequence of the social structure that had already created conditions for such development.

The corresponding sources of such bad tendency are found in the electoral system the lawis prescribing.

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