Letting loose armed thugs in election times
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 10, 2022 -

AS in the past, it is likely that the ensuing election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly too wouldn't be free from incidents of hired anti-social elements dictating terms and threatening the general voters in favour of certain candidates.

In the valley constituencies, the incidents might be limited to the usual scuffle among the political workers in their attempt to grab attention of the candidates whereas in the hills armed men intimidating the villagers is imminent as could be comprehended from the National People's Party holding its coalition partners - BJP and NPF - responsible for the threats faced by its supporters in some hill districts.

Though the NPP's charges would either be rejected by the accused parties or dismissed as false allegations due to lack of hard evidences and the victims' indisposition to corroborate the threat out of fear of reprisal, it's a fact that elections in the hills are seldom held under conducive environment.

As such, there is substance in NPP's allegations that its candidates and workers are being subjected to selective intimidation and abuse by members of armed outfits.

While the demand for adequate security cover to its candidates and seizure of firearms from all underground groups sounds unrealistic as the anti-social elements would devise other tactics to achieve their goal of facilitating election of their chosen candidates, the only option left is for the election conducting authorities to ensure deployment of neutral security forces in sufficient strength and try to motivate the vulnerable public that their participation is of paramount importance in deciding who would helm the affairs for the next five years.

As the outfits named as the prime perpetrators by the NPP are bound by the suspension of operation pact signed with the government, all efforts should be made to confine cadres, of the peace deal signatories within their designated camps for the ECI has already announced that postal ballot facility would be made available to them.

Regardless of the NPP claiming that it has provided details of constituencies and militant groups which are allegedly campaigning for two particular political parties, the few options left for the ECI or state's election machinery is to prevail upon leaders of the outfits to rein in their cadres, tighten security measures, recover arms from the armed groups under SoO and declare the vulnerable constituencies 'most sensitive' as has been proposed by the aggrieved party.

Moreover, the NPP's claims bring to the fore some of the maladies that have been afflicting the democratic exercise.

Apart from elections held in Manipur as elsewhere mainly centring on disinformation campaigns, disenfranchisement of the vulnerable sections of the society, corroding influence of money power and divisive majoritarian tendencies, utilisation of activists of the various armed groups has been a chronic problem in the state.

As participation in elections is a matter of great pride for bonafide eligible citizens, the ECI has been making continuous efforts and playing a critical role in the sustenance of democracy.

Therefore, the establishment ought to complement the ECl's endeavours to increase voter participation through various events by upholding the voters' right to choose their representatives sans duress, failing which there might be suspicion that the delay in sealing the final pact with the SoO signatories is a deliberate ploy to utilise the cadres during election times.