Another Chance
(Sept 20)
With the elections to the eight State Assembly only a few months away political parties or politicians to be precise have begun preparations for the big fight. The reported resignation of some nine former MLAs from the BJP is part of this exercise. And many more former MLAs will be seen scouting for greener pastures.
Making a beeline for the party that may come to power before the State Assembly election and shifting alliance soon after the election to find a Ministerial berth are very much part of the game in Manipur. In the seventh Assembly elections the then united Manipur State Congress Party emerged the largest party after it eventually managed to muster enough MLAs to retain power. Several MLAs belonging to different parties joined the MSCP bandwagon before it crumbled down and became divided into at least two factions. That is not all, other MLAs ditched
their respective parties and changed colors in the hope of becoming a minister.
Party hoping attracted provisions of Anti-Defection Law and shifting alliance was effected by our honorable elected members at such
a fast speed and number of times that even a keen politician observer is often finding it difficult to recall who was elected on which ticket. As a matter of fact he will have to consult records to refresh his mind. As a result of frequent party hopping by the members during its short span the seventh State Assembly witnessed two Chief Ministers at the head of two different Ministries.
Radhabinod Koijam would not have become a Chief Minister if he continued to be a loyal Congressmen. Similarly thanks to chameleons, the BJP which was not a force to reckon with became the largest party with 26 members by the time the Assembly was dissolved. All these pushed administrative works and development projects towards the backseat. The state's economy continued to falter and unrest among
the people were mounting. To put in a nutshell the MLAs created a complete chaos in the state. But they forgot that people were watching their behaviors. And the fact that they did not approve of the political mess created by their representatives was shown in a violent manner.
The Assembly Secretariat and many other Government buildings were reduced to ashes. It is too early to speculate the outcome of the elections, but if the state has learnt anything from the seventh State Assembly some changes may emerge in the political scene. As a matter of fact the state needs real changes in the political scene to move forward.
It depends on how the electorates use the power in their hands. It should be reminded to all that elections are held every five years to allow the electorates to vote out non-performing representatives. This opportunity should not be wasted by the people in this round of election. Everybody have witnessed how the 60 MLAs performed in the just concluded seventh Assembly. It is high time the electorates indulged in serious debates on who should be elected and who should be voted out.
(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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