Restrict role of money power
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 18, 2012 -

As the election date to the 10th Manipur State nears we can discern certain marked differences between the previous general elections Manipur has seen and the present one.

When the elections were still some three/four months off, there was quite a bit of activities from all the intending candidates in many localities aimed at keeping the voters happy by various means. This led us to surmise that the present election would be most high profile one and possibly the most expensive till date.

But we were pleasantly proved wrong as far as the the poll extravagance is concern, in the sense that we have seen less of the wining and dinning, less of Shumang Leelas and musical programmes sponsored by the intending candidates.

The quietness and normality of the atmosphere prevailing at times makes you wonder whether there is really a general election on a few days from now.

There are hardly any election offices of the candidates in any of the localities, at least in the greater Imphal area on view, very few hoardings and posters on the roadsides as in previous elections, very few public meetings and rallies and that too sans the usual high voltage road shows.

Though there may be quite a few election offices operating in various areas, they seem to be running these offices on the quiet so as not to attract any unwanted attention. One of the most significant reasons for this is the various steps taken up by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to curtail the excessive role played by money power.

This time around the ECI has been strictly monitoring the activities of the candidates, especially on the poll related expenditures. In every district of the state, surveillance and monitoring team consisting of officials from the Indian Revenue Services have been stationed. In addition mobile teams have been instructed to carry out raids on suspicious movement cash of over Rs 2.5 lakh.

Over and above this, a strict vigil has been kept at the Imphal airport to track large amount of cash being brought in which would be used for election purposes. The candidates themselves are required to open a fresh bank account and do the all transactions for poll related expenditure.

They also have to take care that their poll expenses do not cross Rs 8 Lakhs, the limit set by ECI for Manipur.

This limit though is highly unrealistic, and even though candidates would keep their expenses within this limit on paper, it is an open secret that fighting an election these days costs many times over this amount. While the ECI need to increase this limit to an amount which is more in conformity with the ground reality of changing time, but as of now, the candidate should abide by the limit.

What should worry the ECI is the huge amount of money which will be exchanged in cash to entice the voters by the candidates. This is where the alertness and ingenuity of the surveillance and monitoring teams will come into play.

Till this point of time, the ECI and its various agencies are doing a commendable job which is reflected in the subdued, almost a self-disciplined campaign carried out by all the candidates in general without much pomp and pageantry.

But the last few days prior to the election will be crucial as far as curtailing the role of money power in this election goes. The voters, on the other hand, should not bargain off their right to choose the most capable, competent and upright person from among the choice available.