Nagaland: Chakhesang Clean Election Movement consultative meet held

Dimapur, March 7 (EMN): The Core Committee of the Chakhesang Clean Election Movement (CCEM) conducted a consultative meeting with the community’s apex bodies in Kohima on Monday.

CCEM chairman, Rev. Vezopa Rhakho informed those common guidelines and other materials like posters and pamphlets about clean election would be worked out, a press release informed.

He said that the church in Nagaland was mocked for its clean election movement and NLPT Act but that does not mean the church failed. Rather, it is able to slowly educate the people and make them realise what is good and bad.

Member CCEM, Murohu Chotso gave a clear explanation on the electoral roll and laid emphasis on one man-one vote and one enrolment in one electoral roll.

Executive secretary of the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC), Rev. Khrotso Mero observed that the electoral system itself is excellent but it is the people who are manipulating the system. ‘Therefore, the church will continue to take up a clean election campaign to address the malpractices during elections and there is no turning back’, he added.

He also highlighted the age-old customary practices, where integrity and honesty prevailed and challenged the youngsters to ponder on those lines when electing leaders in the future.

CCEM member, Mikha Lomi presented on various topics like clean election in Christian context and deletion of fictitious names in the electoral roll, it said.

CPO president, Vezuhu Keyho clarified that CPO is not a frontal organisation but an apex body. He said that criticism is omnipresent in every good action/initiative that is/are to be taken.

Further, CPO assured support to disseminate information with regard to clean election movement to denominations irrespective of churches they represent.

Chakhesang Youth Front (CYF) president, Vezhoduyi Nakro advocated for deletion of underage voters in the electoral roll and laid emphasis on the need to discourage such malpractices in the community.

While endorsing the clean election movement, the CYF assured support and added that they are ready to do what is good for the people.

Editor of the Chakhesang Students’ Union (CSU), Kuzoto Swuro pointed out the need to take the clean election movement down to the grass-root level and suggested an awareness campaign among the community level, particularly to those who do not go to church.

He also recommended CCEM members to approach intending candidates to limit hard/soft (online) cash transactions. Setting up of party offices and camps in the village should be discouraged, he added.

The members also discussed extensively on conduct of seminars in respective areas of Chakhesang. It decided that seminars would be held in various levels, to be initiated by the area chairpersons and CCEM members. Towards this, another member of CCEM, Zachive Thele suggested for inclusion of Booth Level Officers in the seminars to enrol sincerely which the house agreed to.

The CBCC has set aside March 27 as Clean Election Sunday to create awareness on the clean election movement. The sermon outlines, to be prepared based on the Bible verses, would be made available to the preachers/pastors to disseminate to the congregation. The house also decided to contact video content creators for creating educational videos with regard to clean elections.