The role of the politician and the role of the people have important functions during an election. The question is who follows who? Whether the mass follow the politicians or is it the other way round. Election in Nagaland is critical and it is the People's Role I am talking about. Though people give importance in choosing their leaders, the way we choose is in a different way. It is an important matter to be discussed. Not talking about the General Election, if we just look on the recent By-poll election (May 7), we find various allegations of unfairness.
The method of election in Nagaland can never be accepted as "free and fair" which has prevailing for many years. One or the other political parties dominates the other not through 'ideological influence' but through 'force and cash'. One very common practice is 'booth capturing.' and the voters have the tendency of violence. The point is, the role played by the people or we can say the method of selecting a leader in the Nagaland State wholly depends on cash, as the people fails to have concern on the party’s principles, policies and programmes.
Money is very important but it may not choose the right leader, because here in Nagaland the cases are different. When the government forms and does not meet the needs of the people, the latter have no voice as they had already sold out his/her rights(vote), just before the election. And of course the politicians may do anything for power, that is their duty, and so they fulfill their aim while the people fail in that too.
We are not sure of one answer i.e., do the Nagas and particularly the youths have a principle? Whether for NPF or Congress or others, do we know about our rights and others' rights? the leaders may not have concern about this. When the actions like booth capturing, violence, kidnapping vice versa, one can say, it is the cause of the politicians, but it is the people themselves only. As when the stronger party with more strength overcome the other through votes, why through violence also? Democratic principles should be maintained. The Nagas should know that we are free and therefore, we the People are not ruled by Dictators. That is why it is the other role or the people's role, which needs a change.
Our system today is deeply rooted in us. For instance, the leaders here may play some politics for their own benefits, and the others will follow some instructions by selling their votes. In some cases, the Nagas do this out of poverty, in many cases due to hopeless vision for our future, and more out of greediness, sometimes they find themselves in their own traps. But the most crucial is, here, the people fail to 'observe and feels' for the State. Thus, the affect is, we have failed in every way. The Naga population (voters) need not play other's politics. The only weapon to bring change and reforms in Nagaland depends on 'casting own's vote' after analysing and examining whatever it is. It is high time to let go our low mentality.
Our Naga issue may be another very important factor, perhaps the most important as every political leader talks and promises about it. Thus the issue rests with the leaders and not the people. Do the people should have voice on this? It is deeply rooted in the grass root level of the society (culture). The only challenge here is for the then generations, urging to vote with high mentality. One should not take away other's rights neither should we sell ours too. It is nearly fifty years after our Statehood and still we lack behind others who had attained Statehood only in the early and later 1980's. Students, youths and elders, this is a serious matter in our land today.
Supong Jamir, Mokokchung
The method of election in Nagaland can never be accepted as "free and fair" which has prevailing for many years. One or the other political parties dominates the other not through 'ideological influence' but through 'force and cash'. One very common practice is 'booth capturing.' and the voters have the tendency of violence. The point is, the role played by the people or we can say the method of selecting a leader in the Nagaland State wholly depends on cash, as the people fails to have concern on the party’s principles, policies and programmes.
Money is very important but it may not choose the right leader, because here in Nagaland the cases are different. When the government forms and does not meet the needs of the people, the latter have no voice as they had already sold out his/her rights(vote), just before the election. And of course the politicians may do anything for power, that is their duty, and so they fulfill their aim while the people fail in that too.
We are not sure of one answer i.e., do the Nagas and particularly the youths have a principle? Whether for NPF or Congress or others, do we know about our rights and others' rights? the leaders may not have concern about this. When the actions like booth capturing, violence, kidnapping vice versa, one can say, it is the cause of the politicians, but it is the people themselves only. As when the stronger party with more strength overcome the other through votes, why through violence also? Democratic principles should be maintained. The Nagas should know that we are free and therefore, we the People are not ruled by Dictators. That is why it is the other role or the people's role, which needs a change.
Our system today is deeply rooted in us. For instance, the leaders here may play some politics for their own benefits, and the others will follow some instructions by selling their votes. In some cases, the Nagas do this out of poverty, in many cases due to hopeless vision for our future, and more out of greediness, sometimes they find themselves in their own traps. But the most crucial is, here, the people fail to 'observe and feels' for the State. Thus, the affect is, we have failed in every way. The Naga population (voters) need not play other's politics. The only weapon to bring change and reforms in Nagaland depends on 'casting own's vote' after analysing and examining whatever it is. It is high time to let go our low mentality.
Our Naga issue may be another very important factor, perhaps the most important as every political leader talks and promises about it. Thus the issue rests with the leaders and not the people. Do the people should have voice on this? It is deeply rooted in the grass root level of the society (culture). The only challenge here is for the then generations, urging to vote with high mentality. One should not take away other's rights neither should we sell ours too. It is nearly fifty years after our Statehood and still we lack behind others who had attained Statehood only in the early and later 1980's. Students, youths and elders, this is a serious matter in our land today.
Supong Jamir, Mokokchung
