Some thoughts for polling day : The slogan - Buy do not sell
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: April 16 , 2014 -

Buy, do not sell. That is buy the ideas, the promises, the overall integrity of the candidate in question, the ideology of the political organisation and his or her merit or efficiency with your vote.

Do not sell your vote for a few thousand bucks. Strike a hard bargain.

Tell them your vote is not cheap, for after all who ever gets elected is going to represent you on the august floor of Parliament for the next five years.

And five years is a long time.

It should also be seen beyond the five year term for whatever is done or not done in the next five years could impact you for the rest of your life.

This is the price of your vote.

Time to give a whole new meaning to the purchasing power of the candidates.

The scale should not be money, but his or her ideas, commitment to the cause of the people and the land, his or her integrity, efficiency and someone who can shake Parliament with the issues which have been haunting you all these years.

The you is the public, whose voices are never ever heard in the corridors of power.

An outcome of the culture of throwing away one’s vote to the highest bidder on election day.

This is an impassioned plea from The Sangai Express and while it is rather clear that a mere write up in this column will not have the desired impact, we would like to think we have done our job as responsible citizens, even if one person buys the idea that is being spelt out here.

Wordsmiths we are supposed to be, but there are times when we do not have enough word power or vocabulary to drive home the point the importance of each and every single vote that is cast judiciously.

Likewise we are at a loss of word to describe how each and every vote that is bought has been plaguing us like the plague all these decades.

Look at the fly by night operators who have suddenly emerged as the next political leader and look further and see the number of such elements who have lined up to be crowned political netas.

At the risk of repeating a cliche’, Manipur has been getting the kind of Government it deserves, for the people have not or are not ready to come around to the idea of having sincere and committed leaders helming the affairs of the State.

Remember the price tag of a police Constable or even a VDF personnel and this is the price we have been paying for turning a blind eye to the importance of our vote all these decades.

The Outer Parliamentary Constituency has already voted and the Inner will go to polls on April 17, that is tomorrow.

So there is still 24 hours to digest the message that is sought to be conveyed here.

We are not talking from a pedestal nor are we are berating the public, for no one is a holy cow, but when it comes to moments like these, we need to look beyond the few couple of bucks and see beyond the five year term.

As pointed out it is not only five years, for there are things which can happen in the next five years, but which will have a life long impact on everyone.

In this sense every election is not about voting for only the next five years but also about our future, the future of the younger generation, the future of our children.

Look at the ramblings and the rantings, study the charges and counter charges, scrutinise the election manifestoes and the promises, of which there are dollops of them, discuss the points raised with like minded friends and then make up your choice.

If none of the candidates live up to your expectations then there is always the NOTA option.

Pressing the NOTA button is also voting, in a sort of a way.

Do not forget that.

Buy do not sell.

This should be the catchphrase, nay the slogan of all conscientious voters, who care about the future of the land and the people.

An opportunity that comes once in five years should not be frittered away for a few thousand bucks or on personal equation.

Remember who you vote for is not only going to affect you but everyone and we have all a responsibility towards each other.

Collective responsibility is the term that comes to mind here.