Leader Writer: Paojel Chaoba
Our state will witness a re-poll in 34 polling stations in five hill districts today. It is evident that compared to the valley districts the elections held on January 28 last have not been conducted in a fair manner in the hills . Moreover, following complaints made to the CEO for conduct of re-polls in certain stations and as per media reports, the NSCN (IM) and other hill based outfits have more or less been responsible for booth capturing and supporting their favored candidates.
It remains to be seen whether the re-poll will be conducted justly and the hill areas get to elect their preferred representatives.
However, in the valley areas, every person worth his or her salt is left to speculate on who will be the winning candidate and has to wait with bathed breath till the faithful day of March 6.It has become a daily routine among family members and with neighbors and friends alike to conduct exit polls. It is amusing to see the polarized political views and may be safe to say that announced favoritism have led to more than a quarrel in various quarters.
It may be said that the 2012 elections have differed in some areas from the last assembly elections in regard to blatant show of money and muscle power, thanks to norms laid down by the ECI. However, the public despite fervent appeals in the media by various civil bodies to vote for the right candidate and refuse monitory advances from the candidates seems to have made scant effect. As, it is an open secret that currency notes were doled out to family members and individuals alike and which were ‘gullibly’ accepted, not to mention that daily feasting were carried out in the leikais.
The after effects of such splurging left many a shelf empty in the local grocery shops and butcher shops in the city areas sold out in the afternoons, the much liked and expensive fish Sareng remained unavailable before, on and after the day of the assembly poll. It is evident that some sections of the electorate had a picnic.
Quoting Aristole that ‘man is a political animal’ in the regard. Though, not everyone may agree with the theory, but it is essential to understand the principals. His main ideology consists in that a man is by nature a political animal because he can reason and communicate with others, therefore, has the potential to alter or change his living conditions for better because he can recognize the difference from right or wrong. Aristotle is proposing that a man with reason has to base his approach towards politics on the fundamental concept of good for human beings. However, based on the evaluation of modern politics, we can conclude that the idea of politics aiming at the human good has diminished and Aristotle may find the majority of the Manipuri society politics rest on denominations of Rs 500 or 1000 notes or a few kilograms of meat. It may be referred to as a ‘democraziness’ and more of based on animal instinct rather than being political conscious.
But, on a positive note, it is not sinful to hope for a light at the end of the tunnel and that the electorate may one day see the light and become true political animals. As Rome was not built in a day, so will it take time to change the system and change will definitely be there one day. How long will it take ? The answer as Bob Dylan puts,“the answer, my friend is definitely blowing in the wind !”
