The last day for campaigning for the state assembly elections scheduled for February 27, ended on Saturday. All the candidates decided to display their numerical strength by way of rallies. Shillong city was choc-a-bloc with vehicles loaded mostly with young, energetic youth. The vehicles also had school going children as passengers. Obviously these kids have no votes but they waved the flags of the parties they “supported” as if their own lives depended on it. Considering that Shillong is battling the worst traffic jams in recent times, the administration should have disallowed this silly demonstration of strength by respective candidates by the number of vehicles they can bring to the roads. Many passengers including those coming from Guwahati were stuck in traffic jams for hours. Do citizens have to always pay the price because a few people have money to burn? Radical electoral reforms are overdue in this country. Democracy has acquired an ugly face during elections. And the amounts spent on such rallies by sitting MLAs must come from the local area development funds. Which candidate would burn their hard earned money? Is it possible for anyone without the kind of financial muscle displayed on Saturday, be able to contest and win elections? Isn’t this blatant exhibition of money power a discouragement for ethical people to enter politics?
And the frenzy with which people join these rallies indicates that there are huge numbers of underworked or unemployed people who have free time in their hands. Gainfully employed people would have no merrymaking. It’s a pitiable situation and one that we ought to be thinking seriously about. Politicians buy these young people for a few thousand rupees just to swell the number of visible supporters who they believe will inspire others. The jury is still out on whether the number of people joining the rallies will actually decide whether a candidate wins or loses. The more unfortunate part is that there are equally huge numbers of students who are preparing for their respective Board exams and are disturbed by the noise and frenzy. Is taking a call on such frivolous electioneering tactics not part of good governance? Its time someone takes up a PIL on this too!