Who gets to represent
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: January 06, 2012 -

In the midst of hectic parleys and maneuverings by various political parties to find the right partner or partners to go along with in the fight against what they perceive as their common enemy and in the hustle and bustle of individual perspective candidates running from pillar to post for the most coveted party symbol, the Election Commission and it various functionaries are quietly making it known that it means business.

Starting from setting out various dos and don'ts which the candidates and the political parties should follow in the course of fighting the elections to ensuring its adherence till date by taking prompt action, the electoral officers in charge of conducting a free and fair election to the 10th Manipur State Legislature Assembly has been on the dot.

Among the many steps of significance taken up include the issue of paid news. The effort taken up by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer and the All Manipur Working Journalist Association in this regard in organizing workshops to sensitize media person of the state needs to be welcomed by the media fraternity in particular as also by the general public.

Though the paid news syndrome during election time had never reached the mind boggling level it did in the last elections to the Maharashtra Assembly where media houses ran advertisements and propagandas for candidates disguised as news stories for huge sums of money thereby putting opposing candidates at a huge disadvantage.

But there is no denying that in state also certain individuals get undue space and air time as compared to others by influencing media persons through various forms of enticements.

While the distorting influence of paid news need to be met head on so as to provide a level playing ground to everyone, it is also necessary to see to it that the fear of being entrapped in the web of paid news do not impinge on the freedom of press.

As of now, the media in the state seems to be treading on the right side of the fence. Side by side the candidates and political parties, on their part, should not only misuse the media by trying to plant stories in connivance with pliant media houses and media persons but should also raise the level of debate and discussion in their campaigns.

They should try and fight the elections on issues and on the strength of their policy and programmes and not by running besmirching their opponents and by mudslinging.

The media also need to play the role of a catalyst and help generate lively debate which, in turn help the voters make an informed judgment. Elections in the state, as elsewhere, are fought on the strength of various things but rarely on issues.

This need to change, and for this to happen, it is important that the voters stop being a passive recipient and stop being satisfied with crumbs.

The voters need to seriously think as to how development in the true sense will come about in the state, what policy and programmes need to be implemented so that the benefits of development accrues to the even the most disadvantaged in our society.

Candidates and political parties should spell out clearly why they are in the fry what are their policy and programme, their area of focus etc.

Only those candidates and parties who will address the various lack and deficiencies of the common people, which include the most basic amenities in terms of roads, water, electricity, sanitation, access to medical facilities should be accorded the honour of being our lawmakers.