Hero Worship : Post-poll Mindset Of The Leaders And Our Electorate



In the post-election scenario, elected leaders who are dear to the chief minister are true leaders of the people. Those who frequently fly to Delhi are considered competent representatives, whatever be the purpose. For the ruling party MLAs. all roads lead to the Chief Minister's Bungalow. To the opposition MLA s. their stealthy destination is their dear and near ones among ministers. For the hard workers of MLAs. it is hundred meter race towards their boss's mercy. All these are for personal gains. Nobody ponders over the majority of impoverished people strayed unattended and untouched by the leaders. Before elections, all were valued. After elections, only a few are valued. This is representative democracy in Manipur.

General election (to elect the Generals) is over. Pre-election and post-election scenarios are considerably different. Before elections, candidates in the fray were identified by their obedience and loyalty to the people irrespective of who and what they were. However, in post-poll environment, the topsy-turvy happens. The electorate has begun to worship their representatives as Hero of all times and as General in the war field. Sudden jump of positions from zero to hero has apparently made many leaders mad. In no time, most leaders forget their service mission and representative role. Both the electors (the people) and the elected (the leaders) should always remember the concept of representative democracy and their assigned roles in politics.

Even after months of election; rejoices in the form of feasting, picnics, parties, musical concerts and Shumang Lilas were still continuing in various localities. Grand receptions for elected leaders with huge expenditures were going on in the nook and corner of Manipur. There was no end to people's gaiety and extravaganza. Our public seemed confused on its role and duties in participatory democracy and remained crazy in the electoral politics.

Pre-election scenario indicated that those who offered twenty rupee notes to the 'Sankir-tan performers' of wedding or shradha ceremonies were considered as noble social workers. Those who readily paid for Shumang Lila or Musical Concerts on public demands were termed as active social workers. Those who were on big costly vehicles were considered quite fit to be leaders. Those who owned heavy vehicles, expensive plots and buildings were regarded as capable social workers. Lastly, those who wore guns in their waists were respected and competent social workers.



In the post-election scenario, elected leaders who are dear to the chief minister are true leaders of the people. Those who frequently fly to Delhi are considered competent representatives, whatever be the purpose. For the ruling party MLAs, all roads lead to the Chief Minister's Bungalow. To the opposition MLAs, their stealthy destination is their dear and near ones among ministers. For the hard workers of MLAs, it is hundred meter race towards their boss's mercy. All these are for personal gains. Nobody ponders over the majority of impoverished people strayed unattended and untouched by the leaders. Before elections, all were valued. After elections, only a few are valued. This is representative democracy in Manipur.

As a representative of the people, an MLA has to initially explore the various problems facing its people. Economic conditions, vocations, livelihood, literacy and health of the people of its particular constituency have to be thoroughly surveyed and studied. The availability of educational facilities, medical facilities, sports infrastructure, power supply, drinking water, road connectivity, sanitary provisions, old age pensions and other social welfare or family welfare benefits have to be digested. The leaders have to put up these issues through proper channels for bringing about solutions. Inconveniences of the people, unequal distribution of the government, or any discrepancy have to be put up and deliberated upon in the state assembly sessions. It is the ardent duty of an MLA to speak of the welfare of the people of its constituency before the other representatives. It has also to constructively criticize the government to bring about distributive justice.



On the contrary, the minds of our leaders are preoccupied with exploring ways for re-collection of the huge sums spent in elections. What are there to extract from the public exchequer and individual citizens - contract works, supplies, repairing, appointments and transfers are the burning contemplation of newly elected leaders. Many ruling MLAs vie for ministerships or chairmanships to get their huge shares. A number of opposition MLAs hunt for establishing friendships with minister probables, in contrast to party principles. It is time to start looting the public exchequer in the name of governance.

It is also time for the new ministers to send out their conmen to start combing operations in their respective departments to hunt for earning avenues. Any position opposing the move may be changed in no time to give room for handy officials to come in.

During such a hectic schedule of our Generals, the word 'electorate' has lost its significance. 'Everything for the self, nothing for the masses' defines the post election democracy. State issues - which the leaders seemed highly conversant during vote canvassing, have all been sidelined. Interestingly, people continue to worship their heroes like everything in the form of grand receptions and extravaganzas.



In the past, there were MLAs who never used their microphones in the Assembly Hall to deliberate on their people's grievances, but readily participated in musical evenings and dances as an obligation. We have seen leaders inactive in assembly discussions, but highly conversant with spraying unlimited rupee notes to lady singers. We have seen MLAs who very rarely visited their constituencies during their tenures. We have seen leaders who never entertained their people's complaints. Consequently, they could hardly return to their seats after five years. It is an important lesson to the new comers. Zero can become hero and hero can become zero.



Is it the right time to enjoy the extravaganzas ? Our public and the leaders need to put a second thought on this. It is not time for hero worship. It is time for activating our representatives as we activate SIM cards for use in mobile handsets. It is time for the electorate to put the leaders to work towards people's collective welfare rather than personal gains. It is time to turn to important state issues - protection of territorial integrity, bringing in emotional unity, controlling price rise, protection of environment and climate, pollution control, uplift of the downtrodden, quality education, improving power supply and water provision, ameliorating road connectivity and sports infrastructure etc. He who works on these is the real hero worthy of worship. The electorate has also to monitor the workings of their representatives and submit feedback continuously during this five year period. We need to nurture real heroes and worship them. 'The tyranny of a prince is not as dangerous to public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy' - we need to recall the words of 18th Century philosopher Montesquieu in this context.

Read article: : Shumang Lila