Some of those who voted YES said:
• Well if the state, church, local bodies push for following points: The party or candidate is transparent with their financial funding with debates and substantive matters, ideas, agendas for the people then I am pretty sure it will be a very clean election and only then the most deserving will be chosen
• Elections might become cleaner, but it doesn't guarantee the end of corruption. Clean election will not bring corruption to an end, yet it’s a part of making a state corruption-free.
• Surely, it is everyone's business and therefore, if everyone comes together, surely success will be of the peoples
• Yes. Church is the most important instrument in Nagaland. The involvement of the Church in the clean election movement is so important. Sadly, the current mentality and narrow theology is limiting the Christian faith. Many Nagas believe that the Church should not get involved in politics. Does this mean that Jesus Christ has no jurisdiction or involvement in politics? This is not true because teachings of Jesus apply to every part of life. For the clean election movement to grow, the Church must be involved actively. There is no shortcut
• Because everyone knows election is a sin if we form in a wrong way but if we elect in a right position with public unity than it is very good for the country
• If we are real Christian
• Why not, this is to conscientious people what's wrong and what's right. And the choice is purely depends on individuals
• If not now then when? Better late than never
• Yes. If they are committed to clean elections. I have my doubts though.
Some of those who voted NO said:
• Why the clean election movement always rears its head only in the last moment. This shows they are not serious. It is only lip service. Nothing will change when you do things at the last moment
• Nobody can play clean in politics! Not even the good candidates. Why the Church should be Involved there?? It's not a religious concern! Just pray for a better governing, that's all... Long Live Nagalim!
• Everyone is corrupted nowadays. Can't trust any social, religious or political leaders. When Money speaks everyone is silent
• Church should even never discuss about politics & election, if they do, remember they teach hypocrisy... When the dirt is put in white linen, white linen don't become whiter, no vice versa here as black and white are totally different, not saying the church is pure
• Impossible
• Nope. It won't. I met and had personal talk with many, in most cases it is poverty, unemployment and economy imbalances that leads to corruption. Those candidates who are planning to win votes without using pork barrel, there is no way they will get votes even from their own relatives. I don’t know much, it is just my perspective after having talks with many of the voters about how not to sell their votes and how to utilize their rights. I don’t know what exactly do you mean by clean election... does it mean using of adult franchise without malpractice? Anti cooping? Buying votes with false promises? Or with money? Or did I miss the point where it actually means everyone being hygiene and wearing new, clean and disinfected clothes. Whatever it is, the bottom line is, where I am from, mouth and actions doesn't do the talk during election, money does
• If clean election is such an important issue why is the state, church and local bodies not giving its due. For four years there is silence on this topic. Only come elections, they wake up and make some noise. If they care, they should work for clean elections
• Ghanta puisa dikhile isor kun ase pahorijai
• Nothing of that would work. It's the leaders that needs to be rationally trained, what honest and sincerity really benefits the mass in general. Stakeholders of various bodies will bow down and crumble again when the leader is not motivated. Everyone wishes to have a good governance and government but what we do in return is "wish in thought's" and practically a complete failure. I say let the political Leaders around talk about clean election and strongly stand on it. Then something will fall on the line
• The State, Church and Local bodies working together will not solve the problem of elections driven by power, money and alcohol. The root problem of why money is such a big factor in elections must first be identified. This is a real social and economic issue. It is related to poverty and the corrupt system. We are all stuck in a vicious cycle. The politicians and bureaucrats have corrupted and abused the system. The funds that are meant to reach the public never reaches them. So during elections the public see this as a golden opportunity to fleece the politicians by selling their votes at exorbitant rates. When the politician who wins goes to power, he knows that he has won by power and so sees his victory as a mandate to do what he likes and spends the next 3 to 4 years recovering the money he spent to win the elections. The cycle continues. Who will break this cycle. The state, church and local bodies are part of this cycle and will not be able to break it
• No, these three bodies do not gel well. They are all on different roads and they are not able to find a common road because their thinking is different
• No, because the public does not trust them. Instead the public keeps mocking them because they lack integrity
• No. All stakeholders are deeply involved. No organisation wants clean election. Every one thrives on this evil practice. Only reforms in our own self and social audit on the unlimited powers of elected representatives can bring clean election
• No, because we are too poor in many ways
• No. We need to mature in our political thinking. We have become too narrow and cheap in our outlook. We have to get rid of selfish thinking and look at politics from a broad perspective which is to serve the interests of the public.
• No. These three bodies do not mix together. Each one is concerned and driven by its own interest.
• No. In all these years the Church has not taken up any campaign for Clean Election that has had a worthy effect. Infact the Church has been very lukewarm and issues some statements just on the eve of elections. The Church needs to show that it is serious about our very corrupt election system. Our Church needs to show its relevance.
Some of those who voted OTHERS said:
• Clean election should start from Sunday schools. The church should publish educative materials for Sunday school children
• Clean election topic starts only when election is right in the corner. Clean election won't happen overnight and it will take time but it should be a continuous movement. NBCC and NGOs should visit Mizoram and learn something from them how under the initiative and role of Young Mizo Association (YMA) election is fought free and fair without any problem. As said earlier for the rest of 4 years we don't hear anything about Clean Election campaign but only when election is right in the corner they start working on the campaign which is very late. Separate cell under the initiative of NBCC and NGO's should set up so that they can particularly work only for Clean Election. Only preaching on pulpit about Clean Election is not enough but many things have to be taken up if we truly want to see the result
• Remove usage of excessive money from the equation
• Neither the church white nor politics black
• Yes in theory. No in reality because it is very difficult for all these three parts – state, church and local bodies – since they have their own self-interests. All three of them have different plans and vision for the people. It is very difficult to see how the state will work with the church because their principles are different
• The clean election movement is noble. It needs trust and confidence of the people. The leaders and organisers of this movement must win the trust of the people first if they are to succeed
• An indept study must be done by the Clean Election Movement to establish why the Elections are dirty. Without this understanding, the Clean Election will not be able to move forward
• A. Poverty. B. Opportunity to get public money once in five years. C. Livelihood opportunity for some to get money for votes
• Just don't start again, also church don't involve please
• From grassroots to highest organization, everything is corrupted. With strong determination it will be possible, but it’s better not to even think about this concept in this era
• People enter in politics has a career not has a public servant. Development Zero, employment zero
• Yeah yea...every 4th year before election this saaaaaammmmeeeeee topic clean election popup suddenly
• I prefer Church to stay away from politics
• There is no reason to be hopeful. The State is full of wannabes who will do anything to win power. The Church is dogmatically religious but not spiritual. The Local bodies do not have strong leadership. In short there is no vision and without a vision the people will perish.
