Assembly Election 2012: A Curtain Raiser Or Not?

Deepa Khomdram *

The show is over, the deed is done. Despite the recommendation and strict vigil of the Election Commissioner and the Security Forces, the politicians managed to have their way. They were so adamant and forceful in their effort to woo the voters that they finally did it! How I wish they would be as enthusiastic as they are once they come to power to hold the reigns. Rumours about the election have been making its rounds across the State. Some says the result is already known and they are waiting for the judgment day just for the sake of waiting. Some still wait with their fingers crossed for the results of the election that will be declared in the month of March. But all said and done, the response of the public at large is what amuses me.

Though I wasn’t personally there to watch the furor and the humor but I felt a tickle hearing my friends out who took part in the election. There were people with all sorts of mentalities making the most of the opportune moment. Some getting over-excited about the 500 and 1000 rupees notes literally walking up to their door steps. It seemed as if it was raining green papers. On a lighter note, don’t you think it would be fun seeing all those Gandhi yekpa notes literally walking around in the streets! As always, people would go crazy like they had gone crazy on the eve of the election. The power of money is indeed amazing.

Amidst the mayhem and the hype that ripped the city before the elections, a friend told me about a group of like-minded people/youngsters from the Hatta locality who gathered together and resolved to not accept anything in lieu of their votes. They even went a step ahead by presenting a list which recorded their names to every candidate contesting from their Kendra. Although I am not very sure of the veracity of this information, I would simply say “Hats Off To Their Spirit”. It might not have made much of a difference, it is just the beginning. Today, there were just a handful of them, tomorrow there would be another lots joining them and then another lots will join in leading to the redemption and resurrection of a new Manipur.

No one is sure of whether the Assembly Election 2012 will raise the curtain or not but one thing is certain and that is the shortsightedness of the public. How they can be blinded by a few bucks to forsake everything is inexplicably incomprehensible. All they could see is the money they get in the form of, call it, a bribe which in actual is synonymous to selling themselves. For years, it has been going on, yet no one is ready to acknowledge it as an unbeatable crime. They consider it as a righteous act. And the result is right before us. As always, another corrupt Government is in the making, which will be followed by a series of hues and cries about bills not being passed, salary being delayed, increase of potholes on the roads, power cuts becoming more frequent and so on and so forth!

What is the point of raising such hue and cries when you have actually become a part of the corrupt government? The 28th of January 2012 was a day that could have changed the future of the State, if the public at large have acted responsibly. However, passing a comment on it, when the results are yet to come, would be unfair. So, at the moment, all we can do is just wait and watch! But we all know that the fate of Manipur has already been sealed and as of now, nothing much can be done about it. Whatever may be the result, let’s just hope that everything turns out well and fare good at least for the future of the State. Even if it does not turn out to be as good as we expected then we should not be cursing or blaming anyone but ourselves. For, it was we who preferred to turn a blind eye because of our greed.

Let us instead learn our lessons this time and make a joint effort to sensitize one another about the importance of vote and the significance of choosing the right candidate who can represent us and act on our behalf. Beyond politics, the need of the hour is to educate the people and make them understand the value of their votes. Instead of totaling the burden of the State, let us just do our bit and share our knowledge to make the people aware of the grave mistake they have made. Irrespective of whether the Assembly Election 2012 proves to be a curtain raiser or not, let us make it an eye opener for the future.