Morung Express News
Chuchuyimlang | September 3
In a significant and encouraging move, the Langpangkong range under Mokokchung district today pledged to conduct free and fair elections at a marathon ‘Clean Election Campaign sensitization cum consultative meeting’ held at Langpangkong Govt High School, Chuchuyimlang town here today.
The meeting was organized by the Langpangkong Students’ Conference (LKM), Clean Election Campaign Committee and was attended by participants from thirty villages and some town units.
The participants included village council members, church leaders, Langpangkong Watsu Telen (women), Langpangkong students and youths, GBs and DBs. The participants, who were all leaders in their own capacities in different organizations and unions, unanimously adopted a thirteen point resolution to be pursued for clean elections in the Langpangkong range.
Significant among the resolutions was about the endorsement of the LKM-Clean Election Campaign Committee (CECC) to carry forward its objectives; creating a common platform for all the intending candidates for delivering speeches; prohibiting use of alcohol, weapons and opening of political youth camps; no proxy voting or selling off of votes etc.
The participants wholeheartedly welcomed the resolutions presented by the LKM – CECC and asserted that it was the need of the hour. The speakers were unanimous in their view that if such a clean election campaign is successful in Langpangkong area then it would eventually spread to other areas like the whole of Mokokchung and also to other Naga areas.
The idea to conduct Clean Election Campaign in the Langpangkong range was adopted as one of the resolutions during the general conference of the LKM which was held at Tuli in January, 2016. Consequently, the LKM appointed an eleven member Clean Election Campaign Committee (CECC) to initiate and realize the Clean Election Campaign resolution adopted at the general conference.
Convener of the LKM CECC, Bendang Yaden, while terming today’s programme as the launch of the campaign, pointed out that in Mokokchung alone Rs 118.17 crores was spent during last state assembly election. The people are suffering today because they have ‘eaten’ all the money for development during election time, he said. Therefore, he called for a change in the election system where upright and honest candidates are elected in a free and fair manner so that development can come in the area. To ensure that upright honest and qualified representatives are elected to the legislative assembly, the Convener of LKM CECC asserted that it can be done by conducting free, fair and clean elections.
The Director of Horticulture, Watienla Jamir exhorted the participants while short speeches were delivered by Langpangkong Tsukong Mungdang president, L Tally Longkumer and President, Langpangkong Watsu Telen, Repsaongla. LKM CECC member, K Temjen Jamir presented a power-point presentation and explained the points contained in the CECC Resolution.
All the participants also signed a pledge card promising to uphold the clean election campaign.
LKM Clean Election Campaign Resolution
1. The Clean Election resolution brought by the LKM to bring about a change in Langpangkong range is very appropriate which is very much needed in the whole Naga area. Therefore, the whole citizens of Langpangkong range unanimously resolved to carry forth the objectives of the Clean Election Campaign Committee (CECC).
2. The LKM-CECC will create a common platform for all the intending candidates in the constituencies falling under Langpangkong range to deliver speeches.
3. LKM-CECC Sub-committees will be formed in all the villages and towns under the range. This sub-committee will comprise of all the important stakeholders in the village leading by the village council. To strengthen the clean election campaign, the village council chairman and town ward chairmen will be associate members in the LKM-CECC.
4. During elections, the use of intoxicants and weapons will be totally prohibited.
5. No political youth camps will be allowed to be opened in any of the villages or towns in Langpangkong range.
6. No citizen of Langpangkong will sell off his/her votes for money.
7. During election, no one will approach the candidates for money, job or for any individual gains.
8. During election, no enmity should be between or among the villages, within the village or with outsiders.
9. Langpangkong citizens will truthfully maintain their vote in one constituency only.
10. No Langpangkong citizen should practice proxy voting during election.
11. All the candidates will be made to make a promise for bringing developmental activities in the range; the CECC will make the candidates to declare this pledge at common platform speeches. 12. The church leaders will conduct home visitation and organize prayer meetings and programmes. 13. The LKM-CECC will visit all the villages and town and interact with the villagers in order to realize the objectives of the Clean Election Campaign.
