Impressive polling percentage, disturbing rate of violence
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 07, 2022 -

UNMISTAKABLY, large section of the population would be heaving a huge sigh of relief that elections to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly finally ended on Saturday.

It was evident from sporadic incidents of booth capturing and threat to voters in the first phase election that the second phase of voting too wouldn't be peaceful in any sense for violence has become part and parcel of electoral politics in Manipur.

With almost all the serious contenders spending heavily, it was obvious that the political class would mount enormous pressure on their hard-core workers to take the most daring acts, even if it meant defying the election rules and regulation.

It is mainly due to the huge expenses generally invested by the candidates that political workers undermined presence of polling officials and security personnel and tried to snatch or damage polling equipment in significant numbers of polling stations in both phases of the election.

Left with no option, it is but natural for immaculate security personnel to make good use of their service weapon as they are duty bound to serve those who believe in righteous election of their representatives rather than succumb to pressure tactics and intimidation by unscrupulous elements.

Moreover, utilisation of CAPF personnel for election duty and deployment of micro observers in elections imply that the ECI has more trust on neutral forces to uphold the democratic principles and instil sense of security and confidence among the masses. However, state forces too have done their bits as is evident from viral videos of bashing up rogue elements.

Compared to the past, the scale of election-related violence was unprecedented and many would be praying that there would be no post-poll clashes.

Nevertheless, there is strong possibility that scuffles will break out when supporters of winning candidates take out the usual victory marches which generally double up as the opportunity to jeer at the defeated opponents.

However, as some precious lives have been lost and scores left to nurse the wounds suffered during clashes while trying to ensure victory of their respective candidates, it is hoped that everybody would exercise maximum restraint to prevent tension and unwanted situation.

On its part the Election Commission of India has done everything at its disposal to hold the polls sensibly and must be relishing that both phases of elections had overwhelming participation of the people.

The ECI and the CEO have every reason to cherish over high turn-out of voters in both phases but what should worry the election-conducting authorities is the large number of complaints over booth capturing, involvement of armed outfits, tap-locking button of opponents, lack of enthusiasm among the presiding officers to formally report malpractices and temerity of the political workers to challenge the system, to name a few irregularities.

While it is the prerogative of the ECI to either order re-poll or validate the votes cast, repetitive occurrences of some perennial ills afflicting electoral politics in Manipur should be an eye opener for the ECI that elections held in the state Continue to be mainly centred on muscle and money power, no matter how hard authorities work to cleanse the malaises.