For a responsive government
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 19, 2012 -

While votaries of different political systems will continue to debate for years to come and possible never come to any conclusion on which system works the best, we on the other hand, can broadly come to the conclusion that no political system is perfect.

When we say which system works for the best, we mean which works the best for the majority of the people, especially the weaker sections of the population who need the support of the system the most and not for a few privileged section of the society.

Over and above the shortcomings inherent to every polity, there are vested interest groups which take advantage of these shortcomings for their own interest and who further subvert the system to derive the maximum benefit at the expanse of large sections of the people.

Many believe the democratic polity works for the benefit of the largest section of the people as it is the most representative and participatory. But invariable, we find the very process of ensuring this participation and representation of the people carried out through elections gets subverted.

While ideally very citizen of the country above 18 years of age, exercising the right to vote for a candidate of his choice participates in the election of representatives who will run the affairs of the state on their behalf, we find in practice that many are prevented from exercising this free choice through enticement in cash or kind and through threats and coercion.

Here too, the most susceptible are the weaker sections who would find the monetary incentives offered extremely tempting given the deplorable condition of their existence, and again when it comes to threat and coercion, they are least likely to be in a position to fight against it.

For elections to be truly reflective of the aspirations of the people, it is important to insulate the process of election from all forms of malpractices. Candidates who get elected by indulging in electoral malpractices, we can be sure, will rarely work for the upliftment of weaker sections of the society.

They will be more interested in maintaining the status quo, thereby leaving this section vulnerable to manipulations when the next election comes around. But the point is to break this stranglehold of money and muscle power in the electoral politics if our democratic system is to become truly representative and if it is to work for the benefit of the majority of the people.

In this context, various steps taken up by the Election Commission of India (ECI) seems to be getting the desired result to a large extent as far as the brazen display of money power goes in the run up to the ensuing election to the 10th Manipur State Legislative Assembly. But as we have pointed out earlier, the real test will come just before the polling when attempts will be made to pay off the voters. As far as threat and coercion goes, the polling day is extremely important.

We need not overemphasis the need to prevent proxy voting and booth capturing on this day. It is important to put in place fool proof security arrangement on this day to prevent any threat and coercion to the voters.

The ECI on its part have assured adequate deployment security personnel on Election Day and we hope, the assurance come true.

Also, the move to photograph voters during voting, if implemented across the state or at least, in polling booths most vulnerable to proxy voting and booth capturing will go a long way in combating this distortion of the poll process.

Making the electoral process truly free and fair is the first step in the formation of a government which will be responsive to the aspirations of the people.