Elections are considered to be the ‘festival of democracy’ in India. It happens all year round, in one or the other part of the country. It is the time when people elect their representative to represent them in the village panchayats, state assemblies or the parliament. Likewise, this festival has even begun in Nagaland. The most interesting event of the festival has been the seat sharing between the two alliance partner NDPP and BJP.
During the past few weeks, there had been lot of speculations regarding the seat sharing formula between BJP and NDPP in Nagaland. The verdict is finally out for the seats to be shared on the basis of 40:20 between NDPP and BJP respectively. Every candidate who have got the tickets must be delighted and rejoicing that they are on a journey in an unsinkable ship like the Titanic. And on the other hand, the candidates who were vying for the two political party tickets must have been heartbroken. But, I believe that they must have all taken it like a small bump on a smooth highway as the final battle is yet to be contested on the 27 th of February 2023.
What about the voters who have been supporting a particular political party for a long time and want his/her candidate to contest from that party but is denied the opportunity to so. They are left homeless after giving all their time and energy to the party that they believed in. They are conditioned to support a political party which they were not a part of. This way it has taken away the rights of the voters as they are not given the liberty to cast their votes for a particular political party which they want to support. The very essence of right to vote is diluted in a way.
Was the formula of seat sharing really that necessary for a small state like Nagaland? Was it the need of the hour to save the day? It can rather be seen that this formula has resulted in making many political party workers being discouraged and saddened. Therefore, the seat that has been shared has also brought about sadness shared equally.
Mr. ASENLO KHING, Kohima