Election Fever : The hysteria of a first time voter

Roshan Huidromba *

India, the largest democratic country in the world is having election shortly and I can’t wait any longer for the election day. For the first time in my life, I will exercise my voting right as granted by Election Commission to the eligible citizens of this democratic country, in the coming Lok Sabha election to choose the leader of my choice who will represent its people. ECI issued my EPIC just few months after State Assembly Elections were held in 2017 following several unsuccessful attempts to enrol my name in the Electoral Roll.

As the polls are happening in just few days, all the stakeholders seems to prepared in full swing; political parties, candidates, and their supporters are busy propagating their agendas in whatever possible way they could : through campaigns, public interactions, media forumns and even social media platforms like Tweeter, Facebook , WhatsApp etc including publication of Election Manifesto and had already flooded with their views, opinions, hopes and aspirations of this country and it’s people.

ECI, on the other hand, is confident of its preparations so that no voter will left behind to participate in a free and fair election of the largest democracy in the world.

Some measures taken up by the Commission includes
model code of conduct during election is going on, providing security measures through deployment of various law enforcing agencies to ensure that no untoward incident is occur,
introduction of most developed and reliable technological outputs of Information technology like VVPATs, cVIGIL app,
GPS tracking of vehicles in transporting EVM machines and
setting up of polling stationseven in the remotest of areas,
additional provisions for people with special needs,
conducting awareness programmes related to election in every nook and corner of the country besides arranging support systems and
keeping close vigil monitoring of any happening that may disturb or hamper the Electoral process in any form.

Coming to Manipur, a total of 19,30,912 voters will cast their votes in 2,861 polling stations across the state for two seats of Lok Sabha MPs. Out of the total voters, 9,39,926 voters are male, 9,90,960 voters are female and for the first time 26 voters are enrolled as third gender.

Eleven candidates are contesting in Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency while eight candidates are contesting in Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency. Despite the challenges of its geographical location, difficult terrain conditions and other sensitive problems, the Election Commission is all set to conduct the election in Manipur in two phases; April 11 for Outer and 18 April for Inner constituencies respectively.

As in the words of respected CEO Manipur Mr. PK SINGH IAS and I quoted here, “We are 100 percent prepared”.

But the question is,are the citizens ready for election? This is indeed remains a big question.

I would like to emphasize this because nowadays there seems to be an unconnected gap between public and the government due to various factors responsible for it,like rampant corruption (although the goverment always ask for proofs), worsen law and order situations, violation of even basic human rights in various ways, delay justice in legal matters, less development reforms but more gossip.

Such factors builts a dividing wall between WE and THEM. This is in fact very unfortunate as it creates a deficit of trust between the government and its people.

Unlike recently held State Assembly election, it seems that citizens of Manipur give less importance to Lok Sabha election.Another possible reason is the lesser number of MPs as compare to other states which is very wrong, as the saying goes something is better than nothing.

Besides this, no woman candidate has file nomination paper despite the ever increasing issues of woman. I really dont know the reason behind it but more and more woman policy makers must come up. However, it is encouraging to see some vibrant and energetic youths as candidates.

So, the most pertinent question is, who will be our MPs?

For me the key criteria for selecting our leader will be someone who will respect our human rights, who is ready to bring reforms be it electoral or economic, education etc, who will be fighting corruption with all his will, who can challenge this deformed system rather than adapting to it.

And I am very hopeful toI elect him as our leader. One more thing I dont believe in propagandas like my party or our party is the best, because, to me, it doesn’t matter in what party a candidate belongs, a good leader will always be a good leader.

Lastly, for those people who always wonder why should we elect leaders to work in a deformed system, as Nelson Mandela once said, ”The world is in chaos not because of presence of bad people but the silence of good people”, as a citizen I urge all of you to come out and be a part of the change you just wishing and longing for. I am very thankful to the Commission for this privelege. Thank you so much ECI for making me a decision making part of this country.