Democracy thrives on the will of the people and Article 326 of the Constitution of India provides for the process of adult suffrage to implement the same. The composition of 60 members in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, allowed by Clause (1) of Article 170 of the Constitution of India, is the result of exercising the franchise.
The fulcrum of democracy is the electoral process. The ultimate tool at the disposal of every citizen irrespective of one’s religion, race, caste and sex is his/her ‘vote’ to determine the governing system of the State. If the integrity of the process is compromised then the notion of representation becomes vacuous.
The trite of “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” is indispensable. The principle of one man one vote is the basis of true democracy and it should be the fundamental duty of every voter to exercise his/her franchise responsibly.
Every citizen should be election literate. As election awareness will not only safeguard the interest of the voter but also enable the voter to deal with the abuse of the process by others. Amongst many, few basic essentials are:
Undue influence and Proxy Voting: Interference or attempts to interfere with free exercise of electoral rights and personation at election is punishable office under Section 171C and 171D of the Indian Penal Code. The defaulters shall be punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to 1 year or with fine or with both.
Booth capturing: Under Section 135A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, the defaulter shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 1 year but which may extend to 3 years and with fine. Such offence committed by a person in the service of the Governmentshall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 3 years but which may extend to 5 years and with fine.
Election Expenses: Article 324 of the Constitution of India empowers the Election Commission of Indiafor superintendence, direction and control of elections throughout India. Expenditure Observers has been appointed, inter alia, to exclusively monitor the election expenditure of the contesting candidates. Amount limitation has been framed by the Election Commission of India. Therefore, candidates are bound not to exceed the limitation.
Golden Triangle: Equality, fundamental freedoms and protection of life & personal liberty under Articles 14, 19 and 21 constitute as the Golden Triangle of the Constitution of India. As envisaged, citizens cannot be denied/barred from exercising their constitutional/statutory rights nor can they be restrained/compelled/excommunicated for exercising their constitutional/statutory rights or privileges.
Free and fair election is founded in thedoctrine of basic structure. The right of an elector to cast vote without fear of reprisal, duress or coercion is fundamental which ushers good governance.
Royaltiesfrom candidates against the valuable vote has proved to be the most profound show of negligence and mockery to the democratic process. Every 5 years, democracy is strangled at the altar of greed. The incompetence or short sightedness of fellow voters to emphasis on the importance of right representation instead of ‘community, clan and tribe’ has become a tradition which is being blindly adhered to for decades. The irony is that the motto of the State of Nagaland is ‘Unity’ while the veracity is on the contrary. It would not be wrong to admit that the understanding of an established Government is badly misplaced.
A welfare society cannot be manufactured mechanically and it is time that we acknowledge the grim reality of our State and be mindful of whom we choose to be our voice in the coming Legislative Assembly. In our struggle for a better Nagaland, exercising our franchise judiciously is a step closer to the desired State.
Complaining and denouncing the leaders of the day are traits which modern people must refrain and act through politics. The answer lies in politics by way of ballot box as a vote is best invested when it is commissioned for overall advancement of society.
India, the largest sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic and republic nation in the world, is the home to many tongues and culture. Such accommodation justly represents the truest form of unity in diversity. Nagaland being the 16th son of the motherland should not be left astray in the course of achieving its potential. This quest for a just welfare State can only be attained when all the eligible denizens of Nagaland competently exercise their franchise. It is only then a new dawn on Nagaland can be witnessed. Now, the ball is in the court of the citizens of Nagaland.