Politics is more than a game of numbers
- Imphal Times Editorial :: September 25 2020 -

Politics is a game of numbers and it is the quantity and not quality that matters – and this fact has been proved once again with the last couple of days witnessing a frantic buzz in the state political circle with both the ruling as well as the opposition party engaging in a no-holds barred contest to wrest or maintain power depending on the perception of the concern party.

With a coalition government which is susceptible to disruptions and interruptions owing to its unstable foundation, it is no wonder that those in power are in a perennially unsetting situation, with the opposition which incidentally happen to secure the highest single party victory in the latest general election playing the waiting game, always alert and ready to pounce on the slightest sliver of opportunity to topple the present bunch running the state.

Today, in an effort to save the chair and the party in power, the leader and his trusted deputies will have to take some very uncomfortable and potentially dangerous decisions, mainly to ease the pressures from within and without.

And within this balancing act, there are rumours that certain tainted- or rather more tainted characters will have to be accommodated in the ministry.

While the need to preserve themselves and the power they wield is understandable, the evident act of compromising on the aspirations of the people has shown that these bunch will stoop to whatever level is required to achieve their ends.

What was perceived as an upright and empathic government has now began to show a different colour, and the change that the people is witnessing is not a very comforting or popular one.

It is said that if the government is afraid of the people, then it is democracy; and if the people is afraid of the government then it is autocracy.

Judging by recent trends, our elected leaders who are very much present and active on social media have been found to take offence at the slightest hint of provocation regardless of whether the remarks or comments merit considerations at all.

Intimidation and allusions of retributions should give way to patience and empathy.

Treating their present positions and perks as inherited rights by the elected representatives does not bode well for anybody, and this harsh truth would have been felt by a few unfortunate representatives today itself.

What is being played out at present looks like a desperate attempt at holding on to their positions by a few leaders by building up a support system of cronies who have pledged their allegiance to their new leader by ditching their former parties.

Evidently, party ideologies and loyalty are concepts alien to these individuals, and if anyone is to be blamed for their incorrigible actions and conducts, it is the people who have let themselves into being honeytrapped into giving up their precious suffrage, and thus belittling themselves.

Politics can and should be a powerful tool for uplifting the public, but as long as the public is susceptible to momentary lapses of judgment and bribery, we are in for a long haul.

The only solution is for us to make ourselves count; not as numbers but as individuals with opinions and resolutions.