Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 31
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council’s (NBCC) ‘Clean Election Campaign’ underwent its first test during the recently concluded By-Election to 10 Northern Angami-I Constituency, and the verdict has been mixed.
“Yes, money was used in some pockets but this time we see that the role and influence of money was less compared to the previous elections,” said Victor Kevilhouthie Yhome from Kohima Village.
“I have a neighbour who refused to take money when he was offered at his home. Money was not given to many households unlike the previous elections, where money was distributed to each and every household irrespective of whichever party they belong,” he added.
Kevilhouthie, who voted on Election Day said that the environment was “very friendly unlike the previous elections.”
For Sophie Lasuh, who took a midnight train home on the eve of the By-Election in order to cast her vote said, “There were reports of altercations. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It means there are people to voice out against proxy voting.”
There were negative sides too. “Upon being asked if money was offered in exchange for a vote, a young boy said, ‘yes, I was offered money by a certain party,’” Lasuh informed.
“This is not an isolated case and there were also reports of many young people asking for money. Clean Election campaign should be taken to colleges so that in 2018, such cases are done away with,” she added.
Some polling stations registered as low as 60% turnout, while the highest was around 92%.
“It is just my calculation but, those polls that registered on the lower side might be an indication of absence of proxy voting,” Lasuh further reasoned.
A resident of the constituency and a youth leader, Peter Rutsa opined that while necessity of conducting clean elections initiated by various agencies, individual Churches and the NBCC "has taken effect,” and agreed by different stakeholders, the election process was "not clean."
“Polling was peaceful, but this itself cannot qualify the process and polling as clean,” he added.
As for fairness! Both the candidates and their supporters had a choice to indulge or abstain from clean and unclean practices. All in all the by-election to the 10th Northern Angami-I AC was “Fairly Unclean,” Rutsa said.
“The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”
In the post election assessment on popular social media forum, the Naga Blog’s Clean Election Cell, the verdict was “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.”
Many said that the CEC made an impact, while agreeing that caution was exercised by “the two contenders, their followers and the electorate.” “According to information streaming in last few weeks till today, money was definitely not offered to voters randomly like earlier years,” it noted.
However, there were also several comments alleging the use of money and muscle power.
“So much poured. 5k for family and 2k for individual,” one blogger claimed, while another claimed to have witnessed “buying and selling of votes @ Rs 2000 per vote” and questioned “Why NGOs did nothing to stop it?” This allegation could not be independently verified.
Another assessment pointed to the role played by external forces. “The genuine residents came voted and left but what can we do of those who came there to eat, live and die for politics... plain and simple our youths here arranged volunteers…” it continued.
Instances of distribution of money and usage of “volunteers” were also reported from adjoining areas near Kohima. “I was told by my family members and friend’s that party workers distributed Rs 2000 to each person in our polling station,” another blogger commented. While there were reported instances of the election not being as clean as envisaged, for many, the refusal by many families to sell their votes provides optimism.
NBCC not fully satisfied, to evaluate and make corrections
Responding to a query form The Morung Express, NBCC Youth Secretary Vikuo Rhi said that while he was not fully satisfied with the outcome, there were many positive impacts.
The core election committee will be meeting to evaluate the result and make necessary course correction, he informed. Presently, he said that the NBCC will intensify its campaign and will be travelling to all its associations in August and September.
Kevilhouthie was optimistic about the realization of a clean election concept “by the electorates themselves.”
“I would prefer not to be too ambitious to expect a cent percent free and clean election by this one by election alone. Let us also be adaptive and optimistic enough in our mindset and welcome the present change that is ushering in - The transition period we are all going through,” he added.
He also batted for not only urging electorates to refrain from malpractices, but also asking candidates not to buy votes or offer money to woo voters. “Educating both the candidates and the voters is a must to clean this menace of unfair and dirty election in Nagaland,” he said.
Rev. Dr. Chekrovei Cho-O, who teaches at Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS), meanwhile assessed that while “NBCC wouldn’t mind admitting its failure in many ways, the public as Christians must also admit their failure.”
Despite intensive conscientization by the church, “if people are still willing to sin, the NBCC cannot rescue them,” he said. Dr. Cho-o who is also closely related to CEC said that the campaign was not to dictate but to empower the masses.
“The church is not a policing body that will hold back your hand from proxy voting and selling or buying vote or get physical at the polling stations, the church can only preach, teach, and rebuke the believing community towards godliness.”
“If NBCC has failed in CEC, we who are aware of the CEC have all failed. Don’t only blame the church; blame yourself too, then only we can all change,” he said.
As the President of NBCC and Executive Secretary of ABAM, Rev Dr. Mar Atsonchanger concurred, “Clean election campaign success or failure cannot not be judged or measure by an election. It’s a progressive movement. I pray that, every citizen in the state should respond to it for better Nagaland.”
(The article have been updated to add more comments not carried in the print version)
