CLEAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN: A village in Nagaland pledges to reject cash-for-vote

December 21, 2022 57 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 21

In what could perhaps be a first in Nagaland, a village has pledged to uphold the Clean Election campaign of the NBCC.

The village in concern— Lhothavi, which falls in the Dhansipar sub-division, Chümoukedima district, took oath on December 20, rejecting any type of inducement, either monetary or in kind, in exchange for vote.

As claimed by the Akukau (hereditary chief) of the village, P Khetoho Tsuqu, the avowal was taken en masse. According to him, it was a conscientious decision taking shape after years of self contemplation.

He admitted that a wish to change the election system was always at the back of his mind even as one election came by and went. “But looking back now, we realized that what we were doing was only waiting for others to change. We thought the MLAs, Ministers would change. At this rate, it would go on for generations, if we don’t take the initiative now,” he told The Morung Express.

While stating that the move was initiated by the Village Council, along with the village church, he added that they came to the conclusion that change cannot happen by waiting for others to change. Based on this conviction, the village convened a general meeting of all members on December 1, 2022. At the meeting, he said the villagers resolved to disallow vote-buying or vote-selling, which was reaffirmed on Tuesday, via oath administered by the village pastor. The event coincided with the annual sports meet of the village.

The resolution may be of a nondescript village in a state with over 1300 villages but he expressed hope that things will gradually turn for the better. He said, “The change may not happen overnight but if we make a start, things will fall into place gradually.” “My understanding is that if we leave it upon others, the desired change cannot occur for generations. We have to change ourselves first. The change has to happen in you and I as individuals.”

In the event, poll candidates or their agents still choose to ignore the pledge of the village and come forward with monetary inducement; he maintained, “They can ask (canvas) for vote in the village, it is their right. But, we will not allow vote-buying. Whoever tries to buy vote, we will not vote for that candidate.”

Source: https://morungexpress.com/clean-election-campaign-a-village-in-nagaland-pledges-to-reject-cash-for-vote