PCRM Appeals for Issue-Based Poll in the Manipur Assembly Election 2017

Press release/02032017

What We Are Is What Manipur Is

2 March 2017: Like every system, the present electoral system in Manipur does have its weakness and strength. However, it is still a crucial aspect of our collective life. It is through this system of election that we elect a few ordinary women and men like us to take the responsibility of governing our collective life on our behalf. Therefore, it is worth remembering certain issues while exercising our voting right.

Private Vs Public Interests

The people whom we elect as members of the State Assembly shall represent us, including the interests with which we elect them. Thus, if the interest(s) that guide our decision to cast our votes for a particular candidate or party is private and personal, the elected individual will also likely to represent similar interests, namely, his private/personal interests.

On the other hand, if the interest(s) that guide our decision to cast our votes for a particular candidate or party is informed by issues of public importance, the elected individual will also likely to represent similar interests, namely, public interests rather than his/her private/personal interests.

When a society is dominated by private interests, our collective well-being is bound to be jeopardized, and chaos and decadence shall mark the nature of our society and polity. We ought to remember that corruption, which is the abuse or exploitation of public offices and wealth for private gain, is a product of a political culture dominated by private interests.

Significance of NOTA

If you think that the candidates and/or political parties are insincere and unworthy of representing you, you must convey that rejection by casting your vote for NOTA. That rejection must be communicated rather than remaining silent by not casting your valuable vote. You silence encourages self-seeking individuals to go public offices.

Please remember that under the existing law, NOTA does not technically disqualifies candidates (that is, even if NOTA gets the highest number of votes, the second candidate who  comes second will be declared as elected from that constituency). However, it is crucial for us to remember that not communicating your voice of rejection of unworthy candidates and political parties is to encourage decadence in our society and polity. Besides, think of the moral pressure on the person who may go on to become MLA even as she or he has been defeated by NOTA. That moral victory is important in an increasingly unethical political culture.

Thus, if you think that the candidates (and their political parties) in the election are insincere and unworthy, choose NOTA to voice your views and fight decadence in our society.

Please Vote for a New Political Culture and a Life with Dignity

Please come out and exercise your democratic right to convey your views. Election is one crucial moment that you get once in five years. Convey your acceptance or rejection of people who would get access to the wealth and power of the state to govern our collective life.

- Concluded

People’s Campaign for Resurgent Manipur

• http://resurgentmanipur.org
• manipuresurgent@gmail.com

Founded in 2011, PCRM is a group of citizens of and from Manipur who are concerned with the prevailing state of affairs in our state and thereby seeking a change towards a new and better Manipur wherein the people—as collective and individuals—can live with dignity and well-being. The campaign seeks to fight against the private and vested interests that seek to undermine the basic fabric of a collective life in Manipur and bring about a new political culture wherein public morality and issues of public importance play significant role in our society and polity

Aims and Objectives of the Campaign

This Campaign is to

• fight against the private and vested interests that seek to undermine the basic fabric of a collective life in Manipur and
• bring about a new political culture wherein public morality and issues of public importance play significant role in our society and polity

Correspondingly, the Campaign seeks to

•     cultivate a culture of dialogue and debates in order to generate informed opinions and choices on public issues and
•     make the political class, public institutions and leaders accountable to the citizens as individuals and as a collective;

In pursuance of the above aims, the Campaign seeks to

•     encourage and cultivate the involvement of private citizens in the affairs of the collective, and
•     engage and monitor the functioning of public offices and institutions as well as the ways in which public officials and elected representatives of the people respond to or address the issues of public importance.