Clean election is a must to boost all round development and healthy society. It has been a significant issue in Nagaland for a number of years and the churches and civil societies have initiated to cleanse evil electoral practices. What is clean election? To my understanding clean election is the one in which rules are followed by citizens who are eligible to vote or stand elections and it is synonymous with ‘free and fair elections’. The constitution of India has granted its citizens the right to vote regardless of gender, caste, class, religion, and color, which can be exercised by individuals who are over 18 years of age as legal right called ‘adult franchise’ or ‘adult suffrage’. In India it is exercised to elect representatives to form an indirect democracy which is defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people. The representatives are elected to the Lok Sabha or the lower house of the parliament of India as MPs and State Legislative Assembly as MLAs. Certain codes of conducts are to be followed by citizens to hold elections free and fair. Guidelines and directives are imposed by the election commission of India for citizens to prevent unfair practices. Free and fair elections prevailed when Nagaland statehood was at the initial and fragile stage and during the time of NNO’s ruling. During this era even the unutilised funds were refunded to the government by ministers and MLAs. Even 10 Paisa was accounted in the state legislative assembly. Corruption gradually infested into the Naga social system and aggravated by negative tribalism. This is the social transformation that the education, industrialisation and westernisation have brought about to the Nagas. Thus Animistic head hunting era ended and Christian era of corruption began to flourish.
Nagaland is a small state with only 60 MLA seats but it has the most expensive state general elections. The clean election campaign has turned to be a movement in the wake of malpractices during general elections. Such as rigging, use of muscle power, money power, anti-social elements, sale and purchase of votes, proxy votes and the likes. Can we Nagas call ourselves true Christians or can we restore clean elections when we condone corruption, unfair elections, backdoor appointments, sarcasm, encroachment, iniquity, mismanagement, but remain mute spectators to weightier matters like welfare of the people, under privileged sections, the have-nots, unbridled price system, exorbitant price, high medical cost, educational and related costs and so on. Government offices are also charging high prices and fees. Voiceless poor are the most negatively affected. If Naga Christians obey the teaching of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Bible and practice what they preach and transform societies into obedient citizens then there can be no corruption in their homes. Clean election is possible if only citizens firmly oppose corruption and evil practices. Churches can multiply huge 10th tithes by promoting education, literature and music and the likes at nominal cost to promote the poor and make them earnable and more responsible individuals but their budgets are not supposed to be in deficit all the times We need thinkers not leaders only to bring about better social change to our people. History has proved that without great thinkers no real and better social change is ever possible when a nation is in chaos and confusion but the same would be exacerbated in already sick society. I think Mizoram has been holding clean elections since the beginning of statehood and Kerala held green and clean elections during the last state general elections. In short, our society needs to seriously put more efforts to create favorable conditions which are conductible for clean election. However, people from all levels should concede in spirit to make this happen.
Kvuchilo Thong (Achilo)
kthong.achilo@gmail.com
