Raymond Ronamai: People of Nagaland went to the polls with a very clear picture -- that either Neiphiu Rio or TR Zeliang would be the CM as they were the chief ministerial candidates from two biggest political parties with the potential to come to power.
In fact, Nagaland elections 2018 was nothing but a power struggle between two Naga political stalwarts -- one to retain his position and the other to claim his lost glory. There was no option in between with no third front in place. Other political parties contested just to be part of a coalition, or at the most become a kingmaker as they were part of pre-poll alliance. It was vivid from the very beginning and it is even clearer now. So there is nothing much to grumble because we all saw it coming.
This time, Rio has managed to claim his lost top post. We don't know if the unwillingness of NPF and NDPP to merge for the common good of the people was to prove a personal point or for better future. But what we know is that the public have suffered enough between two stubborn fighters, not necessarily party members as most of them might be willing to barter their pride for some power.
The biggest beneficiary of the dirty fight was BJP which silently confided with those who couldn't stand the personal rivalry being fused with politics. The unsuspected saffron party is the king now with both NPF and NDPP begging for an unhealthy marriage. It can file for a divorce any time if its partner resorts to nagging. So, Nagaland is literally under BJP rule.
People too deserve blame as they are part of the system. But it's best to find some positive out of the commotion and move forward. Being a good critic is the best one can do in this situation -- to ensure that government does its work efficiently. And lend support.
Personally, stories of some candidates playing clean politics and public returning favours they received from certain candidates before election were inspiring. I can say a bright future awaits the people of Nagaland. Maybe in near future if not today. Change doesn't happen overnight. We are even hesitant to change our hairstyle. But change is surely coming. Hope for the best.
Let us join hands once again - put our heads together to:
Malpractices during election
Rupin Sharma:
1. List out all malpractices during elections in Nagaland;
2. List out all different methods of committing electoral malpractices;
3. Anecdotal analysis of ‘unclean practices’. Hopefully, with combined wisdom and learning, the Clean Election Campaign will have a better chance of success next time.
Make it exhaustive, give examples. Let’s go........
Eshah Jampa Konyak: I see a collective fault in creating this electoral problem, therefore needs collective effort to remove it. For example, there is a girl photo but sex is entered as male. Now data entry must have been mistaken, but why BLOs didn't identify such entries and though issued, why didn't the polling officials reject such voter slips on polling day?
Asang Babzy Pongen: 1. Land owners visiting and warning people with dire consequences if voted for their opponent candidate.
2. Why Epic/voters ID were not used? Voters slip led to mass proxy voting.
3. Party workers not allowing their opponent team/party people to enter the polling booth. It has to be mentioned that people were dragged out of line preventing them from voting for their favored candidate. Imagine such humiliation.
4. Another factor was involvement of National workers. Gun power rules in all the events of Nagaland. Heart wrenching truth.
Kuholy Chishi: Start by setting strict guidelines for BLOs, one man one vote was soothing to the ears but a stab at the back. No proxy was the height of change talked but practically all fingers were blackened, nexus between candidates, polling officers and Agents was such a sight even for a blind man. Hmm ok what and which area was clean is my question? I had hopes that this time it was going to be strict unlike the old practices, but sorry it was just a ray of hope for people wanting free and fair elections which crashed on the polling day. It's never ending malpractice which I personally saw with my poor two eyes. It doesn't matter no point discussing if it's not sincerely implemented. Height of disappointment.
Rozelle Mero: Mr. Sharma, only a biometric voter ID card and a geo tagged biometric attendance will wipe out multiple enrollment and proxy voting! This was told to the EC but they did nothing. Modi government wants our Biometric data for every scheme and our money but the one that needs it most, the basis of corruption, he keeps silent? Why is this so? Is it because the government knows they can no longer control result outcomes? We are already using a biometric data recorded as a card, biometric geo tagged attendance is already taken for attendance in skill development schemes. Nothing new. Just asking existing systems that can be efficiently used to be implemented to curb the menace of corruption. If they really care about corruption, they will get it done before Lok Sabha elections. No more dead people, absent votes to count. Even postal votes have a very easy way to be included. EC needs to educate this more to those working or studying outside too.
Hamdok M Konyak: I was on duty during the 13th NLA election and I know what I saw. The only way to root out malpractices on the voting day is by introducing biometric system for casting your votes. However, if the present system is to be continued with, the system of distributing Photo Voter Slips has to be immediately stopped. Polling officials have to be strictly warned of suspension if they don't perform their duty as per the norm. If only the former or the latter is strictly implemented, we can expect the deserving to win.
Nukhozo Dozo:
1. Multiple enrolment in different wings, villages/towns. 2
. Xeroxing of voter slip.
3. Resolution made by village council to support a particular candidate resulting in not allowing villagers even to attend rallies of other candidates, prohibiting of campaign, capture of polling station.
4. Forcing/pressuring family members or clan members to vote for a particular candidate.
5. Buying/selling of votes.
6. Proxy voting
7. voting on behalf of death persons.
8. Enrolment of plain people in e-roll.
9. Voting by head of the family for all the family members.
10. Not allowing the polling agents of rival party to enter the polling booth and in place sending polling agent of same party. 11. Bribing the polling officials.
12. Misleading the illiterate and elderly people in pressing the wrong one. And so on
Haulai Richard: We may learn from the villagers of Phaipijang Village under Dimapur III AC. Inspite of the village having one of its villagers as a candidate, the village council and the youths stood firm to the call of Clean Election. No proxy voting, no head of the family voting, no dead man voted, no restrictions to any political parties, the youths checked the voters beforehand and anyone trying to enter illegally was asked to move out of the queue peacefully. I salute the people of Phaipijang village.
The articles in this column are compiled by The Naga Blog administrators. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Naga Blog.
