By Gervasius Nongkseh
“For the past few months, we have seen endless rallies, public meetings sometimes causing public inconvenience. Door to door campaigns by candidates sometimes even disrupts family time. Party workers are spending sleepless nights to capture the last soul. Some candidates even go around with gifts of cash and kind to lure voters.”
With the filing of nominations done the election temperature is rising. The culmination is drawing near as February 27 is approaching expeditiously. While candidates try to pitch in their last efforts, the commoners are delightful beneficiaries and wish that these days could last forever. But all good things come to an end. The verdict for the hard-fought battle will be pronounced on the second of March. This time 379 candidates including 59 sitting MLAs and only 37 women are in the fray in this matrilineal state.
It is fascinating to listen to every candidate as they come out after filing their nominations. While some candidates stick to the common phenomena of mud-throwing and promises galore others enumerate the needs and challenges of the constituencies and chalk out their way forward. Above all, everyone seems to be 200% confident of winning. But we all know that only 60 candidates can be victorious. All the others will have to bite the hard chip dust.
For Shillongites the past week was a nightmare. Everything came to a standstill. For a city that experiences daily traffic jams, the show of strength by candidates and their supporters was horrendous. It is unwarranted. Citizens have come up with novel suggestions that filing of nominations should be done online henceforth or followers should be limited. Some candidates brought with them thousands of vehicles and supporters. Hopefully, they are not the same supporters of other candidates as well.
For the past few months, we have seen endless rallies, public meetings sometimes causing public inconvenience. Door to door campaigns by candidates sometimes even disrupts family time. Party workers are spending sleepless nights to capture the last soul. Some candidates even go around with gifts of cash and kind to lure voters. These ‘some’ are the ones we know. Who knows what might be going on unnoticed? Have we questioned ourselves as to what to expect after this? One candidate pointed out, ‘receive the money because it is yours, but vote for the right candidate.’ But if you feel obligated because of the money you received then it is better to follow in the footsteps of one of the voters who returned the gifts received even if they were Christmas gifts. So you are free to vote for change.
It is often said that peoples’ memories are short -lived. History has been proven right particularly in Meghalaya. For over 50 years the same lists of promises have been uttered (we hope they are not photocopied), promises such as better roads, health care, electricity, water supply, education, farmers’ welfare, policies, employment, etc., but every time at least it is packaged in a new form, delivered in a new logic with unparalleled vigour. All these are ideal development projects but what happens? Why is it that in 50 long years we have not been able to solve these problems? While the world is speeding ahead Meghalaya seems to move at snail’s pace, if not remaining stagnant. People started losing faith in democracy, governments, politicians, development and particularly in elections. We hope that this time most of the electorates won’t select only Mr. NOTA and make a mockery of the whole tedious, costly process of election. But the time might come soon if it continues this way. For some voters who have become pessimistic about the election, it is important to understand that your one vote can either bring about change or destruction. Let’s vote with hope in our hearts.
All the rhetoric can happen in democracy. Candidates can make their pledges, they could draw our vision away, they could be elected and do what they think best. But amidst all the pandemonium of democracy, the individual voter is the king. It’s good to reflect on what kind of kings we are. We blame our leaders but who was taken for a ride? Who was blind to the empty promises? Who has lost sight of the real issues, the goal? If in five years we have given an opportunity to a particular candidate, do we need 10 years or more to know his/her capability? This election is a turning point for us in history. Our children and children’s children should not weep over our tomb. 2023 should be a wake-up call for every one of us.
A clarion call for us is ‘VOTE FOR CHANGE’. Change is possible within each person. It has to start from the individual. Fear and force should not deter us. Money and muscle should not frighten us. It is of no avail to protest on the road tomorrow if we don’t vote for change today. We will be crying over spilt milk. Have we not had enough crying for 50 years?
Just as we know the importance of voting, equally important is to know who to vote for; who can deliver. If we still cling to petty gifts, party, religion, region, gender, ST, relative and the like forgetting true development then the state is going to crumble down in every sector. Every election comes with so many twists and turns, deflections and digressions, truth vs hype and beyond and above money. Change requires an intelligent voter.
It is with fear that another five years might just be wasted away in ineffective sameness; we fear that Meghalaya will be governed by elected leaders with self-interest; we fear that people with no vision or low vision sit in command; we fear that this beautiful hill state would be drowned to an unrecoverable stage; we fear that educated youth become anti-social elements; we fear that farmers, residents at borders, women and children would be abandoned; we fear that illegal practices, corruptions, scandals, blackmailing, abuse, crimes and the like would be the new normal. Vote for change can put all these to rest.
It is with regret that I mention that five years ago the same author had called upon the people of the state to open their eyes and vote responsibly but it all fell on deaf ears. Let’s hope the voters have experienced the reality this time and vote responsibly. Not that the present government and our representatives have done nothing. They have done their best. Perhaps it could have been better if we as voters know the candidates and choose those that are selfless, dedicated, unbiased, capable, accountable, visionary, honest and ready to listen. The report card of these five years is in our hands. Hope you know now to vote for change. And vote without fear we must.
This election 2023 brings about new waves, new parties, new candidates and new voters. Some groups have even taken the task of bringing awareness among the voters. It is going to be a new experience for many. It is hoped 50 years have taught us many lessons, people have become more politically literate and above all have learnt from the mistakes and tears shed over the years. This is a wake-up call for us that if we don’t want to shed tears this time, a lot will depend on us. Enough is enough. We should not be blinded by the same trivial and futile drama. The appeal to all voters is to use their power judiciously this time lest they will have to shed crocodile tears for many years to come. Reason and not emotions should be the yardstick. Small petty issues and promises should not derail us. We have the power to write a new chapter and a new history.
When we observe the characteristics of voters, it is seen that most of us are excited and wake up only during elections. After this, we don’t care. Have we followed up with our leaders and reminded them of their duties? That is our responsibility as well.
This time with all the hype of campaigning the voters should not lose sight of bigger issues, such as, dilapidated roads, health care, infrastructures, sustainable energy, policies, education, water supply, border issues, clean environment, security, peace and harmony, women and children, law and order, crimes, drugs menace and of course the list is endless. Let’s vote for change, let’s vote for development and progress.