Changes for real or just cosmetic?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 23, 2012 -

Notwithstanding the fact that the polling day for the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election is almost knocking on the doors of each political party and candidate, the usual scenes associated with elections in Manipur in the previous years are missing or have been altered significantly this time.

Rows and rows of posters and flags on every street and lanes, roadside camps opened to serve as gathering point for young and old alike, which were regular features in the previous elections have not been noticed this time even though the polling date is just five days away.

Cacophonies emanating from loudspeakers throughout day and night in the process of canvassing for rival candidates have not been heard until today in most of the Assembly segments.

Making scathing personal attacks, hitting out at personal weaknesses and scoring points over rival candidates just to present themselves as the better ones are also quite limited this time.

With most of the scenes usually associated with elections in Manipur not visible this time, many poll enthusiasts and keen observers are testing a new experience while many have been left with a feeling of emptiness.

In another word, the festive aura and grandeur generally associated with Manipur elections have disappeared, or at least gone behind the scene.

All these changes may be attributed to the new measures taken up by the Election Commission of India.

In addition to the upper limit of Rs eight lakhs fixed by the ECI about the maximum expenditure each candidate can make in the election, the ECI has also imposed a strict stricture that rival candidates should not indulge in propaganda campaign which are personal in nature and has potential to defame or malign the image of one of them or each other.

These regulations are pivotal for the drastic changes observed in the election scenario in Manipur.

Along with these remarkable changes, authorities have been taking punitive or containment actions against defaulters.

Some people may be saying that media were publishing untrue or twisted reports but the fact is, media just don't create stories without knowing or possessing something to back the same news stories.

Yet, there have been many contentions, sometimes challenging a news story or a report.

Keeping aside the question of authenticity, there were reports about seizure of money in connection with the elections.

These reports were not simply imagined and published by media out of nowhere.

This does not mean that all the reports were fully correct.

Like all other men, journalists are also fallible.

The implication is, notwithstanding all the efforts of the ECI and the State Election Department to hold the Assembly elections as perfectly as possible, there are elements who are defying or violating the instructions and guidelines.

Outwardly, the election has undergone remarkable changes, expenditure in election has been considerably reduced and mud-slinging between rival candidates has become obsolete but the reality is otherwise.

Beyond the glare of the Election Commission, candidates have been making huge expenditures.

It appears that the law-breaker habituated to breaking law always explore a new way when he is unable to defy law in the manner he did earlier.

Banquets sponsored by candidates and practice of luring voters with money is still very much in vogue like during the previous elections.

What has changed is the mode and operational pattern of hosting banquets, organising entertainment programmes and offering money.

The new pattern is rather interesting.

Banquets and entertainment programmes are being organised in the name of birthdays, community events, clearance of exams etc, etc.

As these functions, though sponsored by candidates, are organised in the name of birthdays or other community events, and when the candidates and their close aides are staying away from such events, observers deputed by the Election Commission can do nothing though they too feel something amiss about all these events.

It seems all the restrictions and prohibitions of the authority only impelled the defaulters to explore new ways which can make their unacceptable acts undetectable or present them as acceptable.

The practice of buying votes with money was in vogue since the past and it was banned since the earlier days.

Yet, the same practice was done in secrecy and it is still continuing today.

The only change is, the practice is now carried out behind thicker veil of secrecy, in more cautious manner.

In a nutshell, despite all the changes visible outwardly, very little has changed in reality.

It would not be wrong to say that the task of transforming the election practice and process cannot be fulfilled by the Election Commission alone.

What is more important is public awareness.

Yes, the Election Commission did organise awareness programmes but it seemed that was neither intensive nor extensive enough.

It is imperative that extensive awareness campaigns are organised for a sustained period across the State, though it is time consuming.

When people are more aware, those bent on breaking the law may, hopefully change for the better.