Election: Prepaid or postpaid?

Rev L Simon Raomai *

Voting for 16th Lok Sabha election 2014 at Imphal on 17 April 2014 :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

Following the announcement of the 6th ADC (Autonomous District Council) election, the people of Manipur, especially the tribal communities are once again caught with election fever including the Christians. The contesting candidates in the ensuing election along with their party workers are working hard on a war footing and gearing up their campaigns with their party flags being hoisted and the posters with their party symbols are pasted displaying their manifestos to win the election.

ADC election is now the most talked about topic of the days everywhere in any casual conversation. Many leaders, especially the so called social workers, chairmen and secretaries of the village might have been in the City and towns leaving behind their dear and near one even their field works for weeks and months to study the atmosphere of election and to see the strength of each party so as to decide their candidates and their future. Very interestingly, some are visiting election camp to camp expecting prepaid pocket money from the Candidates while still some are wondering begging money just for a meal or for a drink. Because, election is also a good time of earning easy money for some people. We must beware of money mongers election and false promise makers as well.

The present culture of election in Manipur is associated with all social vices: House to house canvassing, purchase of votes, bribery and inducement, pre and post-election feasting and so on results in character assassination and allegation, enmity, conflict and competition, rivalry, drunkenness and many other unhealthy practices which are demoralizing and ruinous to our – Church life-divisive crack and create quenching Christian ethics.

To innocent villagers, tension and wound remain in their memories. Economy – draining wealth (public fund), cheating and corrupt practices, resulted the yawning gap between the rich and poor becoming wider and wider. And election affects social integrity – division in family, clan, village, society and Church as well. Election also has now become a pre paid selection of party and candidates according to the amount of money being paid to. So good or bad candidate is not the matter but good amount of prepaid money has become the matter.

The reason why the election has become prepaid election is because of valid reasons that after the election the agents, relatives and supporters get benefits while the opposition and innocent people are deprived of their. And still many politicians fail to fulfill their big promises they made during their campaign before election, and thus prove themselves fail. As a result, the voters lost confidence and trust in them. So the voters have no other options rather than to go for prepaid election. Inspite of all these facts, the writer would insist post paid rather than pre paid election.

Taking all these factors of election into consideration, the writer of this article analyses that, an election system of ‘Free give and Free serve’ has become the prepaid election like prepaid electric bill and prepaid mobile cell phone bill. Infact, our votes should give freely without cost and price and when the leaders are elected they should serve the people or their voters freely in return.

Therefore, I want to appeal to my dear fellow citizens to give our votes freely and let our leaders serve us freely when they are elected. Why should we make of our candidates spend in term of lakhs of rupees during election which is infact a waste of your own money because the candidates will have to recoup the expenses during election from the public fund when they are elected. Unfortunately, our precious votes are sold on the prepaid basis. What I am trying to say is that, many voters have been paid before election by the candidates or party, spending huge amount of money inorder to win the hearts of the voters.

Therefore, if so, the voters should not expect the post paid of the election as some have received what they deserve. And all the voters must bear in mind that corruption begets corruption.

Being citizens of the state, it is mandatory for all adults to exercise their right for franchise to choose their representatives through election. Also, the Christian have to play their role to maintain ‘free and fair’ election in the state. Because Nations are born through politics, foundation of a government is politics.

Change and development works are brought by politics. Administrative system and policies are framed through politics, and identity of a people is safeguarded through politics. Good and bad relationship with the neighbouring people or state depends upon politics.

War breaks up and peace restored through politics. The sovereignty or personality is recognized through politics. Military power is directed through politics. Different political parties are formed to represent different ideologies or principles and to fight for power.

Therefore, the Church also should participate in politics with prayer for a just society and raise prophetic voice against bribery, corruption, injustice, mal-practices in election, and should pray that the election may be conducted peacefully. And men of good moral character and God fearing political leaders must be elected after his own heart so that the Kingdom of God may be established here on earth.

The principle of election in the real sense is freely to vote and elect our reliable political leaders who will sincerely serve the people and work selflessly for the welfare of the people in return. And we are not to elect kings and queens to be served but public servants to serve the society which is mandatory. The democratic election has to be conducted in free and fair system.

It is not to be carried out or controlled by money power, muscle power or gun power rather the vote has to be cast by ballot not by bullet. Then only we will realize the real principle of election. Only when we elect God fearing and people –loving politicians we will have good governance and just government free from corruption and injustice. Then only we will experience the Kingdom of God of love, peace, prosperity and harmony in our midst.

Basically, politics is a divine institution instituted by God for divine purpose of development, liberation, transformation and for governing the people for a better and peaceful society which was first entrusted to his Godly leaders like Moses, Joshua, Joseph, David, Daniel et. al. and above all Jesus was one of the greatest politicians, a political role model who ever lived on earth.

Ironically, politics today has turned out to be a dirty game, ugly election and is one of the root causes of evils. The big question before us is – who is now responsible? Who will check – whom? Who is to be checked first? The answer seems to be simple, the politicians! But by whom? The problem is, the public in general is also involved in the same evil during election.

Voters are not faithful: they take bribes or demand money with a promise that they will vote for a particular candidate. Strangely enough; they received such bribes from all prospective candidates just for financial gains. Are they faithful voters? And who are these voters? The answer is simple enough, they are non other than Christians.

Then are they faithful Christian? Can they claim as God’s chosen people as Peter says? Who is to be blamed then? The Politicians, because they have started first and the public in general, because they also follow the same footsteps. Should we compromise our Bible principles, Christian character and moral ethics with evil elements during the election?