Aziebu Shaiza
Election fever is here once again and citizens either have a very good memory or on the flip side- an equally dim one and as irregular as the electricity in electing very incapable leaders and discarding good ones at the drop of a hat just because of their financial standing. It is a very sad and grim picture that we can count true leaders (Amazing!!! I do not need ten fingers) who are capable of delivering the goods to the people. I am sure the general public will agree with the saying about politicians –one who shakes your hand during the elections and shakes your confidence afterwards.
The electorate is fed-up of tall promises and no accountability from some of our leaders. However, this is not a hatchet job, but an observation on the general scenario. In the absence of any industry worth its name in Nagaland, every aspect of life seems to centre round the fulcrum of politics, whether one may like it or not. Politics and elections now translates into money and power. Closely linked or interspersed, one cannot do without the other and in this rat race, reaching the pinnacle by any means justifies everything. Power and more power has become the ultimate high, however crass it may sound. We have people of all hues and shades lining up to try their luck in the hustling.
How far will the main political parties base their poll plank on? Will the DAN harp on development while the Congress sound its clarion call on stability? The late Mrs. Gandhi came out with some very catchy slogans during the 70’s-“ Garibi Hatao” “ Roti Kapada Aur Makan” and post liberalization when India is emerging as a super power, can we continue to harp on the same slogans of development and solving of the Naga political issue etc.? Blah….blah…blah….? On the first slogan, it would be appropriate to eradicate fear from the common citizen of Nagaland and on the latter; definitely-uninterrupted power supply, running water and good roads. I am sure all other high sounding policies and programmes will be more appropriate when we have these basic needs.
There is a need to address the growing aspirations of the Naga youth seeking employment who have the requisite degree, but no avenue to harness their hard earned work. Mediocrity is passé and only merit will suffice. The gap between the haves and the have not’s is increasing. Where will the electoral promise fit in this? I wonder what will be the next magic mantra and incantation of our leaders and their parties.
With one of the major parties clearing its list for the polls, there is already dissension and rumblings within. Can the other party afford to accommodate the same dissidents? These are some sensitive issues that are going to give each party leadership their sleepless nights and with many intending candidates waiting tickets for a national party, it is reliably learnt that a lot of money changes hands. Do not be surprised if there is no development, as it is already well invested even before the polls!!! Then, we have some recent entrants trying their alliance with third parties at the centre. Their intentions smack of political opportunism and sound the death knell of our so called Naga integrity and honesty before their political bosses in Delhi. If Ceaser had Brutus, we have our share too! There has been speculation of a third front or alliance and it is any ones guess on what it would demand once the results are out. Let us be prepared to see some strange political bed-fellows when it comes to forming the government. Mrs.Gandhi had rightly remarked that politics is a game of opportunities, you never know who your friends will be today and who will be your opponents tomorrow.
We were witness to some (shameful) floor crossing recently and it was comical whether some of them had suffered from some sort of amnesia. It was comparable that appeasing them was like giving the dog a bone after sucking out all the marrow!! "Political necessities sometime turn out to be political mistakes." George Bernard Shaw
It is not the politicians who alone are to blame. We are all partners-directly or indirectly as we too have our interests to serve, and not for the common weal.. As the polling gets into high gear, so too are the passengers on the bus of general elections- 2008.However, this time it is the passengers who will dictate to the driver on the fare and the route till polling day.
"Even a little dog can piss on a big building." Jim Hightower- I believe this is so appropriate in the run-up to this election- It’s pay-back time. This time round, it is the voters turn to take maximum advantage for all the years spent by his elected in playing hide and seek and pulling a Houdini when he needed him most! If it was not the elected leader, it was his better half who pulled the apron strings from the kitchen or Delhi for every contract, project, appointment and posting etc. Strangely ,everyone gets closely related to any elected leader and the term “kitchen cabinet” becomes a reality! It’s the time of kiss my ****, goodbye!!! It is not an uncommon sign for many of the voters to solicit votes for their group/groups to the highest bidder. It has become more like pimping and so the vicious cycle of promises remaining unfulfilled remains and development ends down the drain right from Kohima itself.
It was very admirable on behalf of the predominantly church organisation to issue certain guidelines and code of conduct for the ensuing elections. However, I feel that it should have been a joint appeal cutting across all denominations. Yes, the church, and that includes you and me - all of us have a very important role to play and cast our votes on the compatibility of the candidates. Remember that proxy, under-age voting, booth capturing, inducement of any sort is equally sinful as stealing an elephant and a pin!!!
There are some pessimist’s in our society who shy from voting on the pretext that it is of no use and they are the same people who will groan and complain about the leaders and the political system for the next five years. I am sure this is a wrong approach as we have not yet reached Nirvana.
However, of one thing we can be sure about is that fortunes are going to be made or unmade on interests earned by loan sharks .It is also a time for speculation on backing the winner and currying plum favours in return. Of course all this mindless games take their heavy toll on development as elections have become a very expensive game.
I would like to share an anectode on how inexpensive elections were and that a mere toddler of today could have entered the fray with his pocket money in the forgotten era of the 60’s. An elderly gentleman(still alive) won in the elections after spending a sum of Rs.30.00(thirty) only for buying cookies and serving black tea!!! Believe it or not? Believe it! And yes, we will have our share of miracles as dead men return to vote while there will be change of gender too and cloning if your votes are cast by someone else!!! Have a free and fair election and remember we are getting what we will elect for the next term.
