Manipur Election 2012: Domination by Political Issues and Threats
What about Focusing on the Issues of Basic Needs and Duties by the Electors?

Dr N Somorendro Singh *

Election and election process may be a periodic ritual. But that is one of the fundamental essences of democracy as new rulers or representatives will be elected or re-elected. One beauty of democracy and election is the seeking of power or people's mandate even by the most powerful or richest person with folded hands at least once in five years. In non-democratic systems like monarchy or dictatorship even such periodic ritual does not take place and people are deprived of such rituals. Even in Communist countries like China the same leader or the same single party continue to rule for almost life time without bothering about people's mandate. All over the world the trend has been for democracy and change of rulers as witnessed in the Arab world in 2011.

Election 2012 for the l0th Manipur Legislative Assembly will be historic for many reasons. The ruling Congress party will be seeking power for the record of third consecutive term. The Congress led government has already created history by completing second consecutive "five year term". No party or government in Manipur has achieved such record. Of course there have been debates on the performance or damages done by the Congress led government in Manipur over the last one decade. One direct opposition to the policies of the Congress led government and Congress party has been the open threats both physical and mental from the CorCom (Coordination Committee of the seven armed groups) and one armed group among the Nagas. CorCom has been issuing threats to the Congress candidates, its active workers and supporters and warn people not to vote for Congress. Election 2012 will test the power and popularity of the Congress among Manipur voters. The legitimacy or support of the some of the issues raised by the CorCom and the armed group among Naga will be tested in this election. So far among the candidates Congress appears to the favourite with many seeking Congress tickets which included some sitting MLAs and fact that Congress is contesting in all the sixty seats. No party is near to Congress whether regional party like MPP or national parties like BJP. Trinamol Congress comes second with 48 candidates out of the sixty.

One interesting development and feature of the Manipur election 2012 is the joining of Naga People's Front (NPF) (the ruling party in neighboring Nagaland) in the electoral battle in Manipur. NPF has been pursu ing politics in the name of Naga integration. It has declared Manipur election 2012 as 'referendum' for Nagas in Manipur and on issue of Naga integration. NPF has been supported openly by UNC (United Naga Council), NSCN(IM) and other groups among Nagas in Manipur who propagate separatist ideology and 'communal theory', demand separate arrangement for Nagas and declare boycotting of other parties. It will be acid test for those who practice ethnocentric politics but ironically not able to prevent demand for eastern Nagaland within Nagaland. The election 2012 in Manipur will be known as the election with bombs, hand grenades, open threats to the ruling party, direct or indirect proxy support to the opposition parties. It will be a challenge on the popularity of those groups who practice separatist or ethnocentric politics. There will be question mark about 'free and fair' election in view of the open threats and violence by armed groups and massive presence of security forces despite election commission's 'best and innovative measures'.

Issues or promises made by other political parties including Congress, BJP, NCP, MPP, CPI are similar on the issues of preserving 'territorial integrity' of Manipur, removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, resolution of armed conflicts through political dialogue, all round development, education, on the question of unemployment etc. Some parties have mentioned about ending blockades in future, road connectivity and equal development of hills and valleys. However, none of the parties have addressed issues of creation of new districts like Sadar Hills or demands of separate political arrangement for Naga which have caused mass hardship and artificial high inflation due to economic blockade and counter-blockade. The small daily struggles and large shortages like electricity, safe drinking water, proper sanitation and hygiene, health care and other daily basic needs do not figure prominently in the promises made by political parties in Manipur. Candidates and political parties are more confident of winning through personal loyality, relations, locality, money power, hosting of group eating/drinking, simple handshake or request/bowing down (haijaba nonjaba / khurumba) or through emotive means rather than asking or addressing what people really need or want.

Election Commission of India has introduced new measures like strict observances of election expenditure, code of conduct (by removing DGP, appointing full time SPs etc), heavy deployment of central armed forces for polling purposes, various observers etc. Due to such measures some people feel that there will be reduction in election expenditure and even hopeful of contesting elections in future. There are even talks that this time election does not seem to be taking place as in the past. Such comments are due to the past experience of spending lakhs or crores of rupees in elections and festive like situation during election time. However, what has been ironical has been declared property of the candidates which are far below what people think. Even the rich ministers, leaders or representatives seem to be poor or not so rich who seem to make mockery of the law or what election commission/income tax department does.

Election expenditure has been never open but takes place secretly with the consent of the voters. There will be vote buyers as well as sellers of voting rights if both agree for mutual benefits. In a society like Manipur where power and money are used and worshipped and there the absence of equal and fair opportunities, immoral means and breaking of laws and codes may not be surprising. There are instances where election is considered like a festive season , and money is still spent as in the past elections.

There are pre-poll alliances this time with the sole objective of defeating Congress and forming non-Congress government after the election. However, there is no consensus and open declaration as who will be the Chief Minister after the election. Even the new entrant NPF is interested in joining the next government. The opposition parties are not united and not able to come together before the election and specially during the crisis situation and hardship faced by the people of Manipur in the past. They have failed to corner the government and its leaders and fail to provide alternative agenda and attractive promises to the voters. In this election there are many veterans both in the ruling Congress and opposition parties whose political fate will be decided. There is also continuation of family politics with sons and brothers of those elected representatives who died are contesting in this election. So emotive issues both larger political context and identity (Manipur, Nagas etc) and on personal/family ties continue as in the films and sumang lilas as people of Manipur are still emotive even in 21st century rather than focusing on substantive basic issues and politics with a vision. Thus glorifying and practice of romance, high value of emotions and family in films and politics in Manipur continue which say a lot about the culture and level of education of the people.

One of the most neglected issues in the election 2012 in Manipur has been education and basic needs and new strategy for major transformation both in their quality and content. The construction driven development and emotive politics dominate in the politics of Manipur. There is need for serious debate over the need for sustainable development, new approach to reduces imbalance creation of laws and their strict enforcement for justice and fair play, restoring and ensuring the dignity of the individual and labour, creation of opportunities for livelihood (number of poor are increasing without mush notice), securing of freedom and choices both within the family and society, special efforts and measures for children, women, weaker sections as well as remote regions both in the hills and valley. Improvement in education must be the primary focus as no country has achieved peace and progress without first improving educational quantity and quality.

Elected representatives are the products or from the very society in which they live. Voters can not remain ignorant and allow representatives to do whatever their elected representatives do. There is a tendency to view election as a ritual and politics as for powerful or manipulative people or for few families only. This very thinking has been the root cause of emergence of such people and present political situation. Educated and enlightened individual view politics as something 'dirty' and meant for those who are corrupt or rich or even 'anti-social'. Such thinking and attitude with other factors have led to increasing encroachment of public space by those who should not have been in politics and present politics has failed to bring positive transformation in the society, economy and culture or even the way of life.

Election is an opportunity to teach a lesson and inform to the representatives of their duties by the voters. Every eligible voter must exercise their voting right carefully and without fear but keeping in mind who best can serve and fulfill their needs and aspirations. Every voter must participate on 28 January 2012 to transform Manipur in which every individual or group are secured, safe and enjoy dignity and basic freedoms and needs and above all democracy is sustained. It is also time to recognize the values of the composite culture and co-existence of different groups and also with nature. The same can be safeguarded through the exercise of the power of voting right by every voter in Manipur.