Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• To be fair, the seasoned politicians know exactly what the public wants to hear and therefore they sugar-coat their speech with the juiciest of words. They understand the desperate minds of the people and so they keep on stirring the emotions of the public with all kinds of promises. Unfortunately, they do not live up to their promises. If only the politicians even fulfilled half of their promises, Nagaland would be a paradise.
• Yes. Touching only, they are not going to do it in reality. It’s a time for them to touch all those issues.
• Yes … somehow at the time of election.
• Yes of course! They will touch every issue that matters. Not that they will be fulfilled. Promises are meant to be broken. And if their promise can garner votes for their victories, why not make one? Just as long as the common masses can be blinded by it. 'Touching the issues that are important to the public do not mean they should be fulfilled' is the mantra of our politicians. So yes.
• I guess they have speech writers who are responsible for writing down points for them to read out during public rallies. They know how to mesmerize the public with their fancy words, but somehow it is too artificial and it lacks genuineness.
• Yes, because it help the public to open their mind..in what ways they are doing or they are up to.
• A big YES! God is my strength as a layman; so, do the politician with their propaganda!
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• No not all. Just blah blah because of election, after election they would be in vacation.
• These candidates are too arrogant. They belittle the public and think that they can win simply through their money power. They assume that they can buy off the public.
• Unfortunately not. Most of the candidates don’t even know what they are talking about. They keep saying these big words and declare big slogans, but don’t seem to know what it means and how they actually are going to implement it.
• Today’s politicians think they can just enter into elections without working or speaking out for the people. Most of the new entrants in this election are naïve and have never worked for the public, but they still enter the elections thinking they will win because of their money power. With this mindset, how do you expect the candidates to touch issues which are important to the public?
• Politicians in Nagaland will never touch core development issue like road, electricity, quality education, infrastructure, health etc. The reason being, they wont garner votes on those issues, voting behavior in Nagaland is mostly determined by identity politics, tribalism and money power.
• Our politicians are not even aware of the issues that are important to the people. All that they do is stuff their own agenda into the ears of the unsuspecting public. Our Naga public is too docile.
• No. What issues do they have? Apart from making trouble/money/defection?
• NO. They just want to be in power and cheat us.
• No.., they are so ignorant to understand the need of hour for a change. They are just a parasites trying to live on others properties, without doing anything good for public welfare. It will always be the same nagaland, unless they stop their money making..!
• Most of the intending candidates do not care for the people. We need to understand the intention why people join politics in Nagaland. These candidates are not entering elections to serve the people. It will be foolish to think so. They are entering elections to fulfill their own personal ambitions and to accumulate wealth. This is the brazen truth.
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Elections in Nagaland are not about issues. It seems to about money power and muscle power. I wish the media in Nagaland would take a more proactive role in bringing out the issues rather than just following the candidates and covering the boring rhetoric. The local media should take more responsibility in raising issues for public awareness.
• Well!!! manifestos are just political rhetoric. I am not sure whether MONEY or issues determines our voting behavior.........
• U know the best topic of politician in Nagaland is about Nationalism which they couldnt succeed.
• Elections in Nagaland has to do more with goondaism, rather than talking about issues that concerns the welfare of the public. It is unfortunate that the real issues concerning the public are not addressed at all. This reflects the sorry state of affairs.
• I do hope the media picks up on the issues or lack of it and inform the larger public. Unfortunately, what we are seeing till now is the media simply reporting - almost verbatim - what is being said or distributed. For any strong and active democracy to sustain, the media must independently play the role the fourth estate is expected to play.
• The candidate may touch every issues to win the peoples heart during election, but after the election they are forgotten so why should we look for manifesto better cast your valuable vote to chose the right candidate.
• In most probability the result of this poll will say that the politicians are not touching the issues important to the people. This should be a good indicator that if the politicians are not brining up the issues, the media should. The media is important and should not be afraid to raise the issues. Everyday all the local newspapers have plenty of news about elections, but it is mostly about what the candidates are saying. The newspapers are not saying about what the people want from their candidates. The newspapers should stop the propaganda of the politicians and focus on speaking up for the people.
