More than 85 pc of voter turn out
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 15, 2012 -

4th General Panchayat election in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur on 13 Sep 2012 :: Pix - Jimmy Leivon

Impressive figure but then statistics do not always reflect the spirit, without which figures do not add up to more than mere numbers.

With more than 85 percent of the total votes polled in the fourth General Panchayat election on September 13, rural Manipur seems to have stepped closer to the absolute understanding of power at the grass root level.

However the uncomfortable feeling that the impressive figure of more than 85 percent is more likely to deceive refuses to go away.

What were the issues on which the people came out to elect 160 Pradhans, 60 Zilla Parishad members and 1514 Gram Panchayat members ?

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was the catch phrase in the run up to the election but for all the wrong reasons.

No debates or discussions on how to more effectively utilise the funds sanctioned under the flagship programme of the Congress led UPA Government.

Rather it was more a case of allegations and counter allegations of funds being misused flying thick and fast.

Instead of focusing on how to make the understanding of power at the grass root level more realistic by mounting pressure on the Government to devolve the power and responsibilities due to the Gram Panchayat, it was more a case of the buying power of the candidates.

Primary education, primary health, drinking water etc are issues which should have dominated the election campaign but like all ‘elections’ religiously held at its given time, the Panchayat election of 2012 is set to go down as more a case of a big carnival held at the local level.

The consistent failure to understand and appreciate the spirit and essence of adult franchise has been the bane of Manipuri society for decades.

Whether it is the election to the State Assembly, the Autonomous District Council, the Municipality Council or the Gram Panchayat, issues have never been the deciding factor.

The influence of money and to some extent muscle power continue to cast its long shadow on each and every election, whether it is held at the village level or the State level.

To come anywhere near to stating that the more than 85 percent voter turn out recorded at the Gram Panchayat election is reflective of the values of democracy seeping down to the grass root level would be naive.

In fact there is nothing democratic in selling one's vote to the highest bidder.

There is also nothing democratic in influencing the choice of the people by hosting lavish feasts and presenting gifts, which is nothing less than bribing.

In other words democracy and bribery do not complement each other.

The biggest tragedy is the coming to roost of a mentality, an attitude, which says that there is nothing wrong in selling one's vote to the highest bidder.

That this has become institutionalised has been proven time and again during any election to elect a representative to a public office.

Reducing the basic crux on which democracy rests to a farce.