Season of promises!
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 25, 2022 -
REGARDLESS of stray reports of dissent over non-allotment of ticket to some intending candidates, the Congress party has made it crystal clear that it is fully geared up for the assembly elections.
With the first phase of the polls round the corner, the National People’s Party (NPP) too has put its election agenda and vision in the public domain followed by declaration of first list of its nominees thereby signalling preparedness for the electoral battle.
While the Congress party is yet to make public which issues it would be prioritising it is obvious that similar to the NPP the former would be according importance to repeal of the controversial AFSPA from the state.
In many ways, manifestos are a formality, and their releases often seen as no more than a photo-op in the campaign of political parties for the voters are certain to have already decided the candidates of their choice well before the parties in the fray publish the election menu for perusal by the franchisees.
Moreover, belated release of such manifestoes leaves no time for voters to go through the full contents in order to make informed choices.
While it is common phenomena for rival parties and candidates to bare fangs and try to demean one another whenever elections are held, all the political organisations make it a point to centre their election documents on appeasing the masses and making them dream big that their future will be rosy.
Contrary to campaigns largely made up of accusations and counter-accusations over different issues, promising socio-ethnic camaraderie and development has been the hallmark of manifestos of all the parties.
In a bid to deviate from the traditions of policies centred on keeping the electors in jovial mood, the NPP branded its election menu as People's Action Manifesto 2022 for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.
As stated by NPP national president and Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma during the release function, the Action Manifesto is a carefully prepared document highlighting the works to be undertaken by the party without fail and that it is significantly different from the manifestos of other political parties as it contains extensive details on development and covers almost every sector.
While it remains to be seen whether or not the NPP will be part of the new government, the party’s focus on agro-based industries and the fisheries sector, transformation of existing water bodies to economically viable assets, address issues such as the AFSPA, consult with the CSOs for safeguarding basic human rights and stakeholders concerned to work towards protection of the rights of different communities, and hold talks with insurgent groups and other non-state actors to bring peace in the state, seems impressive enough.
In a state like Manipur where many insurgent groups are still active and is chronically dependent on central transfer of resources to shore up its economy, the electorate would definitely welcome any party whose discourse in the run-up to the elections accords priority towards addressing the basic problems and not promises that couldn’t be realised without the patronage and sympathy of New Delhi.
However, the people would be hoping that whatever promises have been made will be translated into action.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.