XII Manipur Assembly election 2022
A clarion call for exercising collective wisdom

Dr AK Chishti *

Voters at the by-election at Wangoi Constituency on 7th November 2020 :: Pix - Lamdamba Oinam

Most crucial days with regard to the formation of 5 years' (2022-2027) Government to come are at hand now. Minds of electorate are now engaged in deciding whom to be entrusted with the responsibility of representing them and their Constituency as an MLA. Political parties vs political parties, candidates vs candidates and supporters vs supporters are in the battle field.

Verily the dates Feb 27 and March 3 are the most crucial days for our State with peculiar problems like the protection of territorial integrity, hill and plain divide, increasing demand for sovereignty of Manipur, unsolved repeated economic blockades adding to the people's miseries, unemployment problem etc.

In short the new Government if formed with incompetent and misfit MLAs cannot boldly face this critical situation/condition. We know that from the misfits alone came out the fortune seekers often changing their colour a phenomenon in India observed during party ticket distribution before election and after election for a berth in the Ministry.

They have no qualms (anxiety) of conscience which is associated with mind of competent and honest leaders and 5 years is too valuable a time for the people to be represented by such elements or parties with such elements.

The situation demands leaders with high scale competency and integrity who can protect the interest of the people in safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, the common interest of all communities by removing the mistrust in them.

In short the ongoing conflict-horizontal with the neighboring State and the vertical with the Centre is to be resolved peacefully and amicably by the new Government which cannot be a Government run by incompetent leaders. Only strong and fully determined leaders who enjoy the people's confidence and support can bring the right solution.

A rare chance once in 5 years to come out of the situation or failing which to continue further the miseries- we all hate to see and abhor is before us today to decide our future. The situation is really challenging for all of us. It is not, for a particular Constituency or a particular community or hill or plain. If the ship that carries all of us sinks we die together.

In the context of the XII Manipur Assembly Election 2022 on Feb 27 and March 3 , a rare chance and opportunity to send the competent and honest representatives, is given to the people for shaping their own future.

For sure the election is not a selection of a candidate for a post under recruitment rule (RR). Seven decades are not enough still for the Nation to learn that the election still continues to be treated as political rituals- a series of actions that are always performed in the same way.

Whereas the democratic system of Government demands full participation of the people who are real stakeholders more precisely the electorate in running their own affairs by involving themselves in investing their hard earned money in various forms of taxes to the Government to run itself in the public interest.

Representatives are not the masters as the Government is not run on their own money. They cannot think of themselves as lords and kings. They are purposely elected to serve the people not vice-versa. Powers, privileges and impunity they enjoy are for the purpose of serving the people.

Unfortunately however it is not the case. Parties in India are many but none is found trustworthy and praiseworthy. Many party leaders and public representatives are becoming more and more abnormal. It is not in dispute that party commanding majority votes can't claim that the whole Nation support them.

How many electorate were against the Voters who supported a party to win in the election or the claim of support ? Others who did not support are factually more in member.

We are aware that, unconstitutional promises in the manifesto were not questioned even. If the majority support in the election that whether it is constitutional or not it is people's mandate –party safely claims. This should be understood clearly, a party belongs to the Nation not vice versa .The situation should not come in any way as it came.

In practice, however, it is otherwise we all know and feel bad to find them misusing the power and positions. People involved themselves only once in five years in our democratic country. Alas, the so called People's Government thus run by their representatives in the last 70 years cannot be said to have done justice worth the name- social, economic and political and also cannot claim to have given equal status and opportunity to all sections of people as promised in the Constitution.

A deep and careful examination of our own thought, feelings and reasons for behaving in the way we have been thinking so far, is now called for a deep introspection-one electorate's introspection will not help –it should be the collective responsibility to exercise with wisdom. This alone can change our way and find the right path and direction. The hour and the moment are very close Feb. 27 to March 3, 2022 Hence the clarion call is issued.

Almost all the representatives (MLAs or MPs) we elected earlier are our experiences today. Pre and Post-election behavior of most of the representatives were seen with no principle stand. The respect and regard shown by the candidates during the election campaign was never the same after the election was over- that was the end of electorate's day. We will very soon experience that situation again if we do not learn from the past.

A competent candidate will never change his colour rather the responsibility given to him by his people or electorate will be discharged by taking them into confidence. He will not see who supported him or not to elect him. Party's interest in its supporters alone cannot be considered above the interest of an Assembly Constituency.

The representatives of such a kind must be the electorate's choice. People will definitely find in him the required virtues, competency, integrity and honesty. We the electorate are to blame ourselves for the mistakes/misjudgment if we fail to elect the right candidate as we are always responsible prime facie to choose our representatives–they did not elect themselves; we elected them.

Let there be hundreds of candidates in the fray but one who is competent and with high morality and integrity should be chosen. It is also expected that a competent representative has the full knowledge and experience
(1) of statistical information of his Constituency on various subjects like population, social, educational, economic structure/condition, employment and problem,
(2) of organizing and conducting public meeting to ascertain their opinions/views relating to the State, regional, National and global concern in a democratic manner,
3) of different languages, traditions and customs of various communities,
(4) of making out cases clearly for the higher/concerned authorities or august House to understand the case/demand for necessary consideration and action.

Only the right thinking electorate in majority can save the erstwhile kingdom of Manipur from the impending danger.