Home Minister's advice
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 10, 2012 -

There is something very profoundly interesting in the observance of Home Minister Gaikhangam that MLAs need to look beyond their respective constituencies.

Speaking at a felicitation function hosted in honour of him and other MLAs, Councillors and Members of Imphal Municipal Council at Kakhulong on September 8, Gaikhangam called upon all the MLAs of the state to give up the habit of concentrating their thoughts on development of their respective constituencies only but to work and contribute their mite towards development of the state as a whole.

According to him, all the MLAs should have a national outlook while MPs should have an international outlook. This observation is indeed interesting and we hope that the advice of the Home Minister does not fall into the deaf ears of our honourable MLAs and MPs.

Of course, some people might argue that the principal role of an MLA or an MP is, first of all, to represent the interests of the people of his/her constituency and manage the local area development funds at his/her disposal for development in his/her constituency.

This is true to some extent. But the truth is that an MLA or an MP is much more than mere representative of a constituency.

As an elected representative of the people, an MLA or an MP is supposed to take active interests in all matters that affect the people, not just in his/her own constituency but also of the state as a whole and they should be always at the forefront in raising the issues that concern the people inside as well as outside the Assembly or Parliament.

This is what is expected from an elected representative, regardless of whether they belong to the Ruling or the Opposition Bench. The role of an elected representative does not end there.

They should also remember that they are primarily legislators, and this would involve understanding the existing laws, proposing new laws, studying and discussing them and supporting or opposing the new laws.

In order words, as elected representative of the people, MLAs and MPs have both collective as well as individual responsibility to perform.

While collective responsibility entails them to enact laws and keep the Ministers accountable to the people, individual responsibility of each MLA or MP is directed towards the development of his/her constituency for which certain fund is provided by the Government each year.

The answer to the question of whether or not any of our honourable MLAs or MPs is fitted into these roles lies in the observance of the Home Minister himself.

Indeed, our respected MLAs and MPs need to look beyond their respective constituencies and petty 'local' politics like distribution of old age pension or inauguration of community hall.