How to select the right MP to represent Manipur

Sagolsem Jasobanta Singh *

In Manipur, choosing the right candidate to govern you is a major issue every citizen faces during MP elections unless voters have mild concerns about a particular candidate/party.

Main thing to understand is what kind of election you will be participating in. Various and common elections in Manipur are general elections, Parliamentary elections, local Government elections (including corporate, municipal, sectoral, etc.). Voters have the right to choose the candidates they believe are best suited to them.

During the MP elections in Manipur, voters are presented with a strong choice of leaders. To choose the right candidate, there are a few things you should look for:

>> Find out how transparent, accountable & accessible the leader is: It is very important for you to measure the leader. There is no reason why the leader should not be selected and available. A good political leader is a leader of the people, that is, a leader who can get close to the people and is always in communication. It is important for people to know what the leader is doing and to share what the leader is doing.

>>See how the party/individual emerges: You can understand the ideology of a party or individual by looking at the manifesto. If this manifesto describes what you are looking for, you can choose to vote for that leader.

Parties generally create their manifestos based on the interests of the people in the region they belong to. For example, while a party participating in the Parliamentary elections writes a manifesto that concerns the whole country, an Independent candidate writes about development activities specific to the region in which he participates.

>> Trace the general developmental history of the leader: Review all development work the leader has done and how much interest he has in development. It is important not only to check its past progress but also to understand its future development plans.

>> Check the leader’s general criminal history: Check whether the leader is involved in criminal activity or at least is against it. Before looking at the characteristics of a leader, it is important to understand the type and qualities you are looking for in a leader. Most of this information is easy to find and available near you. Newspapers, social media, and guides on one’s website are good sources of information.

>> Find out what people think about leaders: You can get an idea of what others think of the leader by talking to your friends, neighbours, and family.

>> What is the leader’s role in decision making?

This shows the will and role of the leader. It is important to understand how other leaders in the party view his words. It is important to know whether the leader has the capacity and can be supported so that the government can take the punishment.

>> Assessment based on common questions faced by candidates : Prepare a report focusing on the problems faced by candidates. See if these questions help you or your country move forward. This way you can decide about the candidate.

Disconnect between the electorate and the election process

There has been a disconnect between the electorate and the very purpose of the election in Manipur. It has been discovered that many citizens do not acknowledge the obligation that comes with the right to vote.

This is especially correct in the case of the city populace in which vote casting day is typically taken into consideration as simply some a sort of an off day because it isn’t made obligatory for each citizen to vote.

There were many instances in which electorate do not even check in to vote or enrol themselves in the voter list wondering their unmarried vote will now no longer be counted however are brief responsible the authorities and deliver pointers to enhance the conditions.

Voting and partaking in the electoral manner is much more than a right. It’s an obligation that every citizen holds to pick their leaders. Hence, there must be an essential shift in the notion of the electorate to comprehend the significance of the vote casting manner in addition to the significance of every vote in figuring out the destiny of the nation.

Voter Rights In Our India

Voters have been given certain rights by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This right is guaranteed by the country’s constitution and is granted to all citizens of the country. Voter rights include:

>Right to know: Voters have the right to know which candidates are running. Voters consider a candidate’s background (possibly a criminal record), the candidate’s financial situation, election results, etc. Voters have the right to access details about the candidates.

>Tendered Voting Rights: A voter can exercise this right if he notices that someone else has voted incorrectly. According to the election commission, such a person will need to provide evidence to prove his right to vote and be included on the ballot paper.

>Voting rights of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs): NRIs are citizens of the country who are absent from their place of residence for work or other reasons but are allowed to vote in national elections. Initially, NRIs were not allowed to vote in national elections. But later amendments allowed NRIs to vote in India even if they have not lived in the country for six months.

>Right of disabled persons to vote: This right aims to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities and disabled people are heard in democracy by protecting their voting rights. Where a person with a disability cannot vote at the ballot box or by mail, the Electoral Commission will assist such voters in voting with the assistance of an election official.

>Prisoners’ right to vote: Constitution of India and the Election Commission of India regulations do not allow a prisoner to vote in the scheduled national elections.

>NOTA (None of the Above): This is another voting right in which the voter participates in the electoral process but does not vote or choose any of the competing candidates. This privilege is used when voters feel that neither candidate has the right to vote. In such cases, the voter will choose or vote NOTA (None Of The Above), indicating that he does not want to vote for any of the candidates running in the election.