There is no perfect society, and Naga society is no exception. Yet, acknowledging imperfection cannot become an excuse for accepting decay. Today, apart from the longstanding Indo-Naga political question, corruption and poor governance stand out as the biggest issues ailing Naga society. At the root of both lies a problem that is rarely confronted with honesty: electoral malpractice.
Elections are meant to be the foundation of democracy. In Nagaland, however, that foundation appears increasingly hollow. The process that should reflect the will of the people has, in many instances, been reduced to a ritual stripped of credibility. What emerges instead is a culture where outcomes matter more than the means used to achieve them. Ethics, legality, and legitimacy are often sidelined in favor of victory at any cost. This is how a dangerous ”the end justifies the means” culture has taken hold.
One of the most glaring distortions in this system is the widespread inflation of electoral rolls. Across villages, the presence of bogus voters has become normalized. (Note that every Naga hails from a village, regardless of where they reside). Such a situation is not merely an administrative lapse but a direct assault on democratic integrity. When electoral rolls themselves are compromised, the entire process that follows is a farce.
The consequences are far reaching. Inflated rolls enable proxy voting. This, in turn, fuels manipulation on polling day. It is also the primary cause for almost all poll-related violence in Nagaland. It is no secret that control over such votes usually determines electoral outcomes. The result is a system where genuine public choice is overshadowed by orchestrated numbers.
Equally troubling is the silence surrounding the issue. There is a general reluctance to call out specific instances or villages. Social pressure and fear of backlash discourage open discussion. Even institutions that are expected to uphold accountability often tread cautiously. When everyone knows the problem yet no one speaks, normalization deepens.
The link between such flawed elections and poor governance is direct. Leaders elected through questionable means are less likely to feel accountable to the people. Instead, they remain beholden to the networks and practices that brought them to power. Corruption then becomes not just a byproduct but a continuation of the same system.
Addressing this crisis requires cleaning electoral rolls. Removing bogus names would drastically reduce proxy voting and most other electoral malpractices, restoring a degree of fairness to the process. The entities spearheading the ‘Clean Election’ campaign may want to take a cue. No clean electoral rolls, no clean elections. It is as simple as that.
Technological interventions, a system that ensures accurate identification and real-time verification, may be the only practical way forward.
Without confronting the issue of inflated electoral rolls, any talk of good governance and tackling corruption remains hollow. When the process of choosing leaders is compromised, nothing is credible. The starting point is simple: clean the electoral rolls and end the normalization of bogus voters. Only then can democracy begin to function as it should.