A moral obligation for CSOs participating in election

Dr Arambam Birajit *

Since the beginning of the Lok Sabha election in Manipur, the people of this far off unassociated state have very insignificantly understood this election so called as "Delhi Vote".

Whereas, in the recently conducted 17th Lok Sabha election, educated young voters have likely become aware of its significance that every law/act which is to enforce in all over India, is framed in the parliament only.

This is the only reason for taking serious the 17th Lok Sabha election as there is no way to refrain any unfavourable law to the indigenous people of Manipur or North East at large.

Just before election, the most crucial people's movement claimed as "Demographic Invasion" and "An act of declaring war on indigenous people of North East" is the movement against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016.

Not only the opposition, even the political partner of the government itself along with hill and valley people raised the voice of discontentment. That event was not only for Manipur but all over the North East.

As usual, the voice of political parties can be ignored as it may be for the sake of their political mileage only but the voice from the people without any influence or pressure to save our identity, culture, ethnicity and land is a real people's movement. Emergence of any one or some civil organizations to marshal the movement of common people is quite natural.

It is not an exaggeration to mention that the contributions of such organisations are protecting our social polity and life. In the view of a common people, in spite of having different aim and objectives of different Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the only common determination is to protect our integrity, identity, culture and historical territorial boundary etc.

More and above, one of indispensible principle of every civil organisation in Manipur is to keep themselves aside from the rotten Indian electoral politics. Many strategically logical viewpoints may obviously be there behind this principle. Notwithstanding that the questions from different sections of frustrated people in the aftermath of the 17th Lok Sabha election are to be answered undoubtedly.

Putting aside the dirty politics of money and muscle power, BJP has won by securing 263632 (34.7%) votes in the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency while 65.3% of voters voted against BJP for different parties. Therefore, the mandate of the majority which would oppose CAB in the parliament will be in vain.

The strategy to defeat a party which suppose to execute against the aspiration of indigenous people of this region is not certainly zero at all even if the prevailing Indian electoral system does not favour to represent the majority mandate. In keeping with time and situation, CSOs should take the crucial role for electing our sole responsible MP as if they took leadership role in the people's movements.

There are so many parameters to elect a representative like party ideology, personality, integrity and commitment of the candidate. And all these parameters may be variable with respect to the aspiration of the people accordingly. To make known the most suitable and perfect candidate for the prevailing issues is necessarily important for consciousness of the public.

Nowadays, it is very crucial as to who will respond to the opinion of some sections of youth for abstaining from any movement like CAB, Framework agreement or border pillar issue etc. After enjoying and entertaining with the offerings of Machiavellian candidates during election, anyone who offers his back in front of lathi-charge in the time of agitation will riot be appraised as hero or nationalist.

Though, considering the central politics is only for the interest of mainland people or national level, participating the election to make people aware would help to minimize the expected confrontation to come in near future.

The government criticised the recent movements namely CAB, MU impasse, Border Pillar etc. as raised under the influence of some political parties while all the CSOs remain free from any political affiliation.

So, the situation arises as to the sanctity of such organizations. After landslide victory of BJP, Hemanta Biswas Sarma, Health Minister of Assam in an interview with a private TV channel, said that the introduction of CAB is one of the top priority tasks to be taken up after settlement of Modi 2.0.

Therefore, our CSOs, now, have to roll up their sleeves. If our newly elected BJP MP can assure the election promise to incorporate a clause protecting the right, culture, identity, land and language of the indigenous people of North East, OK then, it is well and good.

Once again, we all together can send him to the parliament in the next Lok Sabha election 2024. Supposing, if the outcome happens adversely, the repentance of abstaining from electoral politics is a must to happen. Accordingly adjusting the position with time and situation will be the best policy.

On other hand, if the right candidate or right party is declared from time to time, the consensus position of all members will be transparent. Otherwise, some greasy members in terms of clan, relation, friendship or anything for personal gain will certainly run after any candidate who can cater them.

And this staining or remark on the reputation of the organisation will derail from the organisational tract. It is also good that any CSO like a political party will not fight election within this corrupted Indian electoral politics.

But, participating in electing a right candidate is just constructing a bridge to cross the obstacle towards destination. Election and issues are not separate entity. These should be viewed simultaneously and seriously as a whole.