On the map of electoral participation Merely incidental?
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: January 26, 2012 -

It is obvious that the Election Commission of India is intent on promoting citizen's participation in the electoral process and perhaps the interactive session held at Nirvachan Bhawan, New Delhi, where the Chief Election Commissioner of India sits, on January 23 with the media sums this up.

The media is probably the best partner that the ECI can rope in to make this endeavour worthwhile and the 55 to 60 percent of voters' turn out recorded in the last few decades points to a rather dim picture.

The ECI has also taken note of the poor registration of voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years and the need to give a thrust to voters' education is felt all that more.

Non-participation in the election process is a reflection of the cynical views towards the whole exercise of electing our representatives and perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than amongst the middle class Indians.

A turn out of 55 to 60 pc of the eligible voters is not a healthy trend by any stretch of the imagination and citizens staying away from the very exercise of deciding who should represent them in the Assembly or Parliament goes against the very notion and understanding of democracy.

Compared to the bigger States, especially those that come under the general understanding of the cow belt, Manipur can be said to have done rather well in terms of people's participation in the election.

In the last two Assembly elections, in 2002 and 2007, the voter turn out was pegged at a healthy 70 to 80 pc.

This is much better than the overall scenario of 55 to 60 pc.

However the interesting point is whether cold statistics can and should be the sole criteria of deciding people's participation in the election process.

Can the participation of people in the election process be viewed and understood only within the context of casting their votes or should it entail more ? Moreover can the voters' turn out be taken as the sole authoritative figure to decide people's participation ? Each State has its own peculiarities.

Manipur too is not an exception and while it would be impractical to expect the ECI to know and fully understand the factors at play here, the question of how seriously it views the process of election in Manipur, vis-a-vis the bigger States like UP and Punjab cannot be dismissed that easily.

The State election office has a tough task at hand.

It not only has to ensure the smooth conduct of the election but has to also come to terms with the peculiarities of each place, each district and each Assembly Constituency as well as make itself significant to the people who sit at Delhi.

There is always a new Manipur in each district, in each Assembly seat, in the perception of each community and nothing illustrates this better than during election.

There is no reason to suspect why turn out will be any lower this time but the interesting point is whether the dynamics at work here, which has posed a grave question over the very conduct of the election process has been taken seriously by the ECI or not.

If the interaction programme at Nirvachan Sadan on January 23 is anything to go by, then it does not offer much comfort.

Not once did Manipur figure in the address of the Chief Election Commissioner of India, during his address to the media.

It was as if the election in Manipur was incidental.

Political parties and politicians placing prime importance on big States, where the outcome of the results could have a bigger impact on the overall political scenario in the country, is understandable but when autonomous institutions like the ECI follow the trail blazed by the political parties and politicians, then it does not paint a very healthy picture.

It is against this 'light weight' categorisation of the place that the State Election office is functioning and seen in this light the efforts taken up by the CEO and his team deserves acknowledgement.

Not that there are no rooms for improvement.

The conditions under which officials have to dispense with their duty needs a closer look.

Making the working condition a little more comfortable can go a long way in promoting efficiency.

Our take on the matter is, come out and vote but at the same time let's not be blinded by cold statistics.

The past years have shown that what Manipur needs now is quality participation.

Are the people ready for this ?