Choose with prudence
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 26, 2012 -

Even with practically just about a day left for campaigning, there isn't much change in the overall election scenario in the state.

The atmosphere unlike in the past, is still muted, there is still no sign of any frenzied activities from the side of the candidates and the political parties even when the day of reckoning is knocking at the door.

But there is always a shimmering tension in the air amongst the public waiting for the next bomb explosion to go off.

The low key campaigning, is partly because of the elaborate mechanism put in place by the Election Commission to curtail poll related expenditure and strict enforcement of the Model Code of /conduct and partly because of the banning of the Congress party by CorCom - the Coordinating Committee KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF, UNLF and UPPK.

The Congress party which was expected to go all out making full use of all the advantages of being in the ruling dispensation for the last ten years just could not get going.

Its campaign never gained the momentum expected after the ban and non stop bomb attacks launched by CorCom on its election offices and residences of its workers in the valley Assembly segments.

The party also did not find the going easy in the hill constituencies with the UNC calling on the Nagas to support the Naga People's Front, a Nagaland based political party, making its debut here in Manipur with the stated aim of uniting the Naga inhabited area under one administrative roof.

Few days back, suspected NSCN-IM cadres reportedly tried to abduct the President of the Nungba Block Congress Committee and in the ensuing clashes and firing 3 Congress workers were injured.

Truly the Congress, in the whole of the state, is fighting this election with a lot of handicap and inspite of this if it puts up a credible show, it can be expected to grow stronger, more confident and possibly much more arrogant.

Among the other parties the BJP, is putting in a lot of effort with some very high profile central leaders including its President Nitin Gadkari, Najma Heptulla, Hema Malini among others descending on the state trying to convince the voters that the scam tainted Congress will not come back to power at the centre.

The party think tank seems to have decided on this line of campaign in the belief that the electorate would prefer a party at the helm of affairs in the state which is also ruling at the centre.

But, the BJP's effort and confidence may not exactly translate into winning a significant number of seats.

The Trinamool Congress also seems to fancy its chances, and not without any basis.

The party is expected to figure among the contenders for government formation.

The party rounded off their campaign with their charismatic leader, Mamata Banerjee addressing a fairly well attended public meeting.

She even included in her itinerary a meeting with Irom Sharmila, a gesture which will go down well with large sections of people in the state.

But ultimately, it is the voter who will judge all these efforts, campaigns and promises and based on that they will exercise their franchise to decide the fate of the state for the next five years.

For the result to be truly reflective of the mandate of the people, the first requisite is people should turn up for voting in large numbers and second they should chose with prudence without fear or favour and certainly not under enticements of any kind.