By Phrangsngi Pyrtuh
For some time now the people of the state have become the cynosure of the political class. The next couple of weeks would see political blitzkrieg the kind that only comes once in five years though the curtains to the grand finale was already unveiled even before the EC announced the election dates. The Indian election rigmarole is the sort that shames the gambling dens of Las Vegas and our state in the last few elections has made sure that it is attuned to the play of money and muscle politics which is in vogue throughout the country. The days of pure politics and oratory skill is gone, the first replaced with dirty politics while the latter is subsumed to monetary manipulation and fat bank balances. This does not reflect much on the decision making ability of the electorate. Since it is assumed that education and increasing living standards as well as exposure to the outside world would inculcate certain responsibility on the voters when it comes to choosing and electing their respective leaders. The literacy rate has certainly increased and people are more attuned to international events more than ever before because of mobile and internet devices. Surely this is sufficient to make a voter rational and perceptive.
The Clean Politics Campaign is meant to impart this kind of awareness to the voters. This would come to naught if we see similar type of representatives from the outgoing house. And yet we are certain that we would see old faces which complement the power play of today’s politics – money and muscle. The educational system has failed the electorate for their inability to make rational, independent choice. We still do not know or understand the responsibility of exercising our rights to choose good and honest leaders. Education and general awareness have failed us and they have ipso-facto failed the society. Why an educated electorate would vote and elect an illiterate person is a paradox which tickles the funny bones. And why a person with no experience in politics and no oratory skill whatsoever is chosen to become our parliamentary representative speaks volumes of our political consciousness
Education has also failed to give (produce) capable leaders. In fact money (and not education) is the harbinger of success which has permeated the social and political fabric of the system. It is a reflection of the rot in the social structure and by electing incompetent leaders exacerbated the decline of the entire social system. On the one had we despair the lack of leaders on the other we cherish and adore them for their impertinence. However there seems to be no alternatives from the current breed of politicians. They all resemble each other no matter which party they hail from. The winner takes it all is also the one who is most deceitful. Politics is no longer about serving the common man; it is in fact a game of chance. They are no leaders of men judged by any standards.
The choice sometimes is between the devil and the deep sea. Since the rigmarole would have to be completed the election in almost all the constituencies is a mere formality as there are no alternatives. For instance, what are the choices available to the electorate of a particular constituency with two bigwigs squaring off each other, both embroiled in scams and non-functionality? Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh is indicted in probably the biggest scam in the education department and her adversary Mr. Bindo Lanong for his insolence towards the environment and child labour in mining areas. A public debate featuring the two may result in a comical tragedy as they pull the rug from each other on who has transgressed more. The one with the lesser evil may get the favour of the electorate of the constituency as there is no alternative representation. If this proposition is true we can imagine the hopelessness of the situation in the rural constituencies. The city electorate have never once lived up to their image of being the more knowledgeable and pragmatic one. The voting pattern of the city folks and the outcome is certainly not meant for posterity.
The society is desecrated with immense poverty and increasing hardship because of the breakdown of the traditional system brought about by the same leaders whom we revered and choose to take the society forward. There is no endemic connection between the need of the society and those of our leaders. They scorn the community they choose to serve by making a joke of everything even while we desperately try to salvage whatever little the society and its environment has. The rumblings of power struggle subsumed the cry of the ‘voice’ as our leaders bargain and strike deals to propitiate their gods of wealth and greed by draining from the poor every ounce of his hard work. There are far too many Gods to appease and we can only give them so much. There is no end to this madness as long as the five yearly election carnival is heaped upon us with no remedy to plug the loopholes in the representation system.
We vote, not because we care, nor, because, we think there is courage and wisdom in our actions. We vote because we are all driven by our own personal agenda and this is where the shrewd political leaders amass emotional/sentimental support which ensures their victory despite their tainted character or incompetence. To that extent the upcoming election would be no different from the last. I say why the need to vote for the same people for another term? Why not extend (upgrade) the term of the outgoing assembly for another five years? Because nothing is going to change, why have an election that promises change?