TODAY -
✦

E-Pao! Education - Perspective analysis of election in democratic polity

Perspective analysis of election in democratic polity
- What is Election? -
Part 1

By: Ngamkhohao Haokip *



Thematic analysis of electoral system in a democracy would require at least a discussion on the existential circumstances of the State and the purposes of Government as advocated by different political scientists. While dealing with State and Government, a sort of scholastic ambiences of light would be directed to cast upon the election system.

The light so cast is anticipated to take us to two discrete sides of whether our system could really address problems related to elections or take into account the sociological aspect of our societies and bring out novel approaches; and if our existing rules and norms meet electioneering in India, especially in Manipur.

Election is the paid culmination of the existence of a particular society in the form of 'state' that is governed, ruled, and managed by some individuals who are empowered by the electorates as 'Government'.

It is this body of individuals called 'Government' that enforce common rules that are acceptable to the society as a mechanism of dispensing the best interest of all.

However, how far are our Government with its existing political 'systems', especially, the electoral system can deliver the desires of the masses is a quest that every citizens of a democratic state should try to answer for ourselves. A.C. Kapur, in his book Principles of Political Science puts this objective of Government in this way: "It is obviously a quest for a 'just' and happy life for men assembled together in a territo-rially integrated society (read 'state') and as such, the best form of relationship (is) manifested in their governance that can ensure such a life". This is what we need to analyse.

This idea of changing a system is best expressed by Dorothy Pickles in his book Introduction to Politics, when he says: "Each generation" as it becomes adult is faced with the responsibility of deciding whether to accept the rules made or accepted by earlier generations, or whether to challenge their validity and try to replace them by others".

Considering these facts let us look into the past when justices were denied; equality was a dream and when the ignorant Indians were dominated by gagging their voices.

India's political antecedents: India's past political structures or systems were simply an alloy of rules and systems merely framed to meet the then exigencies of -
(1) colonial ambition;
(2) social ills of the times;
(3) divide and rule idea; and
(4) the iron will to prolong the British hegemony.

This unfriendly British had left unsuitable system that we cannot just do away with.

The Hindu social structures and the Muslim religious concept were indeed another important previous circumstances that have also contributed factors for deciding the foundation of our political system that we usurp today. One colossal mistake in the making of the constitution was that the social structure's of the tribal societies in the north-eastern part of India were not considered thereby leaving a great vacuum of political blunder.

Their forms, law, customs, institutions, modes of life, their thought and actions, economic standard and educational credence directly or indirectly influence their participation in the electoral system. Leaving this important aspect of the tribal, especially of Manipur, political justice system among the tribes is hampered tremendously.

The members of the constituent assembly fram-ing our constitution were more or less the brainchild and pensioners of unjust rule with its undeserved systems. They embodied in them tinges of such calloused nature that were seemingly not missed in incorporating them into the laws of the land, as we experience today.

Although their contributions toward the making of the laws are immense, the laws of elections they have placed for use now are far from justifying our goal for equality and justice that we have been struggling until date.

It is also a well-known fact that the constituent assembly simply used comparative method in deciding the shape and nature of the constitution.

Jawaharlal Nehru once said: "We choose this system of parliamentary democracy deliberately; we choose it not only because, to some extend, we had always thought of those lines previously, but because we thought it was in keeping with our own old traditions also naturally the old traditions, not as they were, but adjusted to the new conditions and new surroundings, we choose it also - let us give credit where credit is due - because we approved of its functioning in other countries, more especially the United Kingdom".

This shall remain as a characteristic of developing India. Part XV of our Constitution deals with election.

Those initially enshrined five Articles - 324 to 328 are the legacy of Paramountcy of idea of subjugating the citizens with power of 'superintendent', 'direction' and 'control' etc leaving no power and rights to the electorates in the present context of Indian electioneering.

Read Part 1 | Read Part 2 | Read Part 3 | Read Part 4 |


Ngamkhohao Haokip wrote this article for The Sangai Express. This article was webcasted on December 07th, 2006.


* 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.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Hotel Cachar Club, erstwhile Silchar Polo Club
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2026 : Timeline
  • Manipur's Economic Divide: Refuse to Connect
  • Yaipuba, Ningreingam, Saka : Eming
  • A century of assertion & unfulfilled settlement
  • Supports Indigenous Rally
  • Why Manipur needs counselling in every school
  • World Stroke Day 2026
  • The heart and soul of the rally
  • Yenkhong Tamba : Mera Houchongba : Gallery
  • November Calendar for Year 2026 : Tools
  • Raas Leela @Mysore Dasara : Gallery
  • Delhi Fashion Week: Award at Needle Fest
  • Mecca Pact : A reality check
  • Pre-Diwali skincare: Prepping your skin
  • ODIIN Experiences: Nightclub of Year 2026
  • Two Deputy CMs at loggerheads
  • TRAU vs Navy: 135th Durand Cup: Gallery
  • 5 Manipuris : World Top 2% Scientists
  • Reinvent Northeast Season 9 at Russia
  • Towards a better healthcare
  • Keep on loving you :: Poem
  • Parliamentary co-operation for future
  • Cultivating friends at the right places
  • 48-hour shutdown: Sunurok Killing #2: Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2026 #5: Gallery
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #3 : Gallery
  • The night is still young
  • Hell, thy name is Manipur
  • 7th Rongmei Freshers' Meet in Delhi
  • Workshop: Conservation of Manipuri Pony
  • 140/150 cadres missing at Sinai Camp
  • Pot Lannaba : Mera Houchongba #1: Gallery
  • The Last Picnic Season 2: Micro-Series
  • Manipur's expanding conflict & solutions
  • Mushroom Training Program at Khagempali
  • Delusional normalcy: Recurring violence
  • Toy Gun : Best Short Feature Film CNFF 2026
  • Call to exempt schools from bandhs
  • 228th Bheigyachandra @Nabadwip #2: Gallery
  • Significance of Mera Hou Chongba festival
  • When the kitchen turns loud
  • Nagaland First Five-Star Hotel
  • A harmonious family :: Poem
  • Ageing with HIV must not mean invisible
  • US Midterm Polls: What they mean for Manipur
  • Politics of the SoO pact
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #16
  • The borders the Nagas never chose
  • Bend, Don't Break :: Poem
  • NE moved out of tropical climate zone
  • SoO-less Gong-sound for Peace
  • 'Soil Intelligence' is reshaping infrastructure
  • Naga Peace Process: Indo-Naga Talk: Timeline
  • Noise protest: Manipur Violence : Gallery
  • Nasha Mukt Bharat: A message beyond slogan
  • Bringing books back to living rooms
  • Slams Govt over Escalating Violence
  • When truth becomes the enemy :: Poem
  • The neuroscience of learning
  • 'Hiraeth' at Asian Film Fest Barcelona
  • Marching towards the next Assembly polls
  • The story behind Chahi Taret Khuntakpa
  • Biofortified sweet potatoes in Manipur
  • Probe into alleged Political-militant Nexus
  • Nimai Sarungbam - Lalit Kala Akademi Award
  • "Issue is very Delicate & Sensitive"
  • Festive fitness
  • Shilp Samagam Mela 2026
  • Noting Oct 19, 20, 21 : CoBRA at Sinai camp
  • 48-hour shutdown: Sunurok Killing #1: Gallery
  • The long road without God for 75 years
  • 30 Candidates for Employment in Japan
  • Peace cannot become a political PR exercise
  • Searching for scientific consciousness
  • Time :: Poem
  • India's journey from cotton heritage to new age
  • Tragedy scripted by geo-politics
  • Northeast Book Fair Imphal #2: Gallery
  • World Space Week 2026: The rocket revolution
  • Nomination: RIST Scientist Award 2026
  • Myanmar's return from isolation
  • Deepest Solidarity to Families
  • ABHA and Medical Transcription
  • Manipur Police arrest Three Suspect
  • Sunurok massacre: Politics of selective silence
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #2 : Gallery
  • Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy : Obituary
  • Tale of Ahu, Alang & Apapang: Amur Falcon
  • Consumerism :: Poem
  • Condemns Khamenlok Killings
  • Humble Appeal to All Concerns
  • Envious of the Chief Minister
  • Delivering a powerful point
  • Catholic Valley Schools Sports #1: Gallery
  • When the extraordinary becomes ordinary
  • The Map We Chose :: Poem
  • Dhakeswar Potsangbam : ToI Wellness Award
  • Nigeria calls on world to turn AMR pledges
  • Understanding the pressure students face
  • Training on Mushroom at Khagempali
  • Pointing finger of accusation
  • Digital Revolution & MK Binodini Devi
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #15
  • Letter From A Lost Crony :: Poem
  • Procedural lapses in dismissal of Dr Bimol
  • Manipur Sanaleibak (The Golden land)
  • Training on Seismic Hazard @MU
  • 2026 edition of Hnahsin Kut
  • Oncology & Neurosurgery OPD launched
  • Yaoshang Thabal Competition #5: Gallery
  • Orchids of Manipur
  • Pharmacists: A misunderstood profession
  • Vision Service Week at Ibotonsana School
  • Drone Tech Bootcamp at NIT Meghalaya
  • Athokpam Krishnakanta : World 2% Scientist
  • No Solution Without Identifying "Kuki"
  • Stands in Solidarity with Prof Bimol
  • Taking the idea of Manipur to Senapati
  • Yumjao Lairembi Haraoba #3: Gallery
  • 'Enoong Ngallamdai' :: Movie Review
  • VanDyke Release: Diplomacy or US pressure
  • Mental Health Awareness at High Court
  • 2026 NAMA Research Grant [Upd]
  • Fermented food for beauty
  • Mizoram Targets 5-7% Tourism Share
  • The hills continue to burn
  • Hearthside Story of Naothingkhong #2
  • Between Delhi Power & Valley's Protagonists
  • The Zeliangrongpui at a crossroad
  • Mushroom Cultivation Training at Konthoujam
  • Break from within :: Poem
  • White Canes to Govt Ideal Blind School
  • Concerned: Conflict - Yimkhiung & Tikhir
  • Mizoram Travel Fest 2026
  • Condolence : Kh Armstrong Charang
  • Turning Imphal into a dumping site
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #2: Gallery
  • When prime-time spectacle replaces priorities
  • For a new world organization for peace
  • Intl Day for Disaster Risk Reduction @MTU
  • Solidarity with Professor Angomcha Bimol
  • Intl Day for Disaster Reduction @Wangkhei
  • Condemns Barbaric Killings
  • Schools, roads, power & water supply
  • 'Meeyamgi Khollao Khongchat' #2 : Gallery
  • RIST Talk #76: Gravitational-Wave
  • Breast cancer month, October, 2026
  • Free Screening of "Ishanou"
  • Unlocking potentials of 7 horticultural crops
  • Skies and me :: Poem
  • Eramdam hanna kanbiyu
  • The hills, the SoO camps
  • Mera Chaorel Houba @ Kangla #1 : Gallery
  • China's Mayor Economy
  • My muse :: Poem
  • Condemns Killings & Beheading of Civilian
  • Who doesn't do Vote Chori ?
  • EZE Perfumes Enters Northeast
  • One to one meet with PM
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #14
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #3 : Gallery
  • Two interviews, one empty table
  • A landscape of silence :: Poem
  • NSS Runathon for Peace 2026
  • Gender equality- central to diplomatic leaders
  • Manipuri Calendar for year 2027 : Download
  • Meiteilon not Tibeto-Burman language: Rvw
  • Visit to George Gordon's tomb at Canchipur
  • Anandkumar Naorem: World Top 2% Scientist
  • Protect the hills to protect the valley
  • Call for Papers on Manipuri Pony
  • Ashok Singhal Ji - A Karmayogi
  • Addressing the basics of life
  • 228th Bheigyachandra @Nabadwip #1: Gallery
  • Wildlife Week Celebration at Thanga
  • Evolving women's role in Manipur tourism
  • Where do we go from here ?
  • Training Programme on Mushroom
  • Festival look for Navratras
  • Condolence : Demise of Adino Phizo
  • Significant Delhi invite to 3 leaders
  • Heterogeneous Structure of Meitei Society
  • Concert @ 18th Orange Fest #1: Gallery
  • When water management was Statecraft
  • Who switched off the respect :: Poem
  • All is not yet lost for Manipur
  • Wildlife Conservation: Securing the Future
  • Exam : Post of Under Secretary (Law)
  • Understanding narco-terrorism
  • 1500 Burma Refugees Families in 1968-1973
  • 17th World Bamboo Day : Gallery
  • Land affected families: NH-202 in Ukhrul
  • Training Programme on PCB Repair
  • World Habitat Day 2026
  • AMR survivor & WHO call to protect medicines
  • Cut fuel taxes, not food
  • Creating chaos on roads of Imphal
  • Sushila & Bichu @Airport #1: Gallery
  • Manipuri Pony: Case for Animal Science Univ
  • Hemp plant for sustainable textile & Manipur
  • Flame of the lamp & our cultural sensibility
  • Without you :: Poem
  • Welcomes Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • On the growing roadside eateries
  • 36 Names: Manipur at the Asian Games
  • Abok Ki Singju to Premiere
  • A vision fragmented by corruption :: Poem
  • Gandhi Ji's 3 monkeys and Manipur
  • AI-powered X-Rays are helping find TB
  • Mizoram Reward Lalremsiami, Lalthantluangi
  • 15 years in power Vs 10 years in power
  • Exploring The Vanishing Self #13
  • US-Manipur Digital Archiving Workshop
  • 8th Cultural/ Freshers' Meet for Rongmei
  • The Same Smoke :: Poem
  • Supriya looks at HYROX World C'ships
  • AI4SEVA Hackathon @IT SEZ, Mantripukhri
  • 38th Foundation Day- NIELIT Imphal #2
  • Heikru Hidongba @Bijoy Govinda : Gallery
  • Manipur's Indigenous Natural Farming System
  • Basic human needs a struggle for Sinakeithei
  • Demise of Pame, Marinmai, Lianvela
  • When I met the pugilist Sarita
  • 38th Foundation Day of NIELIT Imphal #1
  • Mizoram's Anthurium Festival Returns
  • Poll fever seems to be catching up
  • My attempt - Meiteilon is not Tibeto-Burman
  • XXXII National Thang-Ta C'ship concluded
  • One Village One Product: A better alternative
  • When machines can answer, who will judge ?
  • Explain motive- Tronglaobi Terror Attack
  • Merger of 5 elected members of NPP
  • Namghar Unites Assam & Maharashtra
  • Trade and commerce : In a limbo
  • 130th Irawat Anniversary : Gallery
  • Lamyanba Irabot Day at Itanagar
  • Irabot's Ideals Remembered at Mumbai
  • XXXII National Junior Thang-Ta C'ship
  • Raengdai Vs NEROCA : Durand Cup : Gallery
  • Lebensraum or ethnic cleansing
  • The narrative Manipur needs
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #2
  • Laitonjam Rishikanta @ Asian Bodybuilding
  • Manipur Mesopotamia Force WWI : Gallery
  • Yaoshang Thabal @Khurai #2: Gallery
  • Chali-Saba - Kang Ningol Palli #1: Gallery
  • Naothingkhong & Pitanga #1: Hearthside Story
  • Meiteilon is still not a Tibeto-Burman language
  • 52nd Foundation Day of AMWJU : Gallery
  • 61st Hunger Marchers' Day #2 : Gallery
  • lEkoLdugi warisiH :: Seireng
  • Can Strong Anti-Racism Law save NE Indians
  • Culturals @Beating of Retreat #4 : Gallery
  • Justice for 6 Liangmai Nagas #2 : Gallery
  • 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly : Gallery
  • The 731, and those who may follow
  • Little Flower School, 1973 batch : Gallery
  • Bichu Kharibam: FIH Magic Skill Award
  • Tour Diaries of Maxwell & Higgins #1
  • Ningol Phida - Shumang Leela #2 : Gallery
  • Study: Social Worker on Counselling Practice
  • India-Myanmar boundary : Mistakes of 1967
  • Radio E-pao: 5 new songs updated
  • To our star Tamo Vicky, Vikram Chongtham
  • Vice President visited Manipur : Gallery
  • Langban Tha Katchaba @Haying #1 : Gallery
  • Protest by Researchers @DM Univ : Gallery
  • Meitei Esei
  • US Ambassador @ CM Mantripukhri : Gallery
  • A teacher does not leave when his classroom
  • Candle Light- Chongtham Vikram : Gallery
  • Colonial records: Hill Areas, 1891-1947
  • Joint Resolution: Abrogation of SoO
  • Manipur Can Simply Be Manipur
  • PhD Admission at Assam University
  • Census 2027 for Manipur deferred
  • Read Meitei Mayek news in romanized English
  • 24-hour Gen Strike (Sep 1) : Gallery
  • Kang Khichri Chaba #2 : Gallery
  • Relevance of NRC, 1951 for immigrants
  • 35th Manipuri Language Day, 20 August
  • The chappals we leave behind
  • Search 25 years of e-pao.net
  • Colonial Knowledge Production in NE India #23
  • 360° panoramic view of spots in Manipur
  • Final Merit List : Manipur Civil Services 2022
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #3
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #2
  • PUCL Tribunal report: A shadow of partiality #1