Imphal, Jan 19 NNN : In the political history of Manipur, the people of the State by and large are never found to be party-minded but rather devote on candidates of their own choice and many of the candidates are also seen changing parties to adapt with the political affairs of the particular time or situation, but the electorate, including their supporters are never mind with such paradigm, according to some analysts.
The people of Manipur more or less are not ready to exercise their voting rights on the basis of political parties but instead they focused only on candidates, social activist Dr Dhanbir Laishram said during an interview .
Many of the legislatures of the State are seen changing their parties and joining others for the coming polls to the 10th Manipur Assembly as a popular fashion but their supporters remain cult of candidacy so long as their candidates stand for elections and moreover, the people have never shown regret over the change of parties and that indicates the electorate is not bothering what political party means to them, Dr Dhanabir Laishram observed.
Senior advocate and member of Senior Citizens for Society, Khaidem Mani echoed the views of Dr Dhanabir Laishram and said that the voters of the State are more interested on candidates and usually forget the political party (s) and their manifestoes, particularly during elections.
Regardless of the fact that a particular candidate of their choice may join the Opposition after election, the public are in the habit of choosing candidates if they think they are right persons out of ignorance, Khaidem Mani added.
Senior journalist and Editor of Sanaleibak, a vernacular daily, A. Mobi in his opinion on the mentality of the electorate of Manipur said that while exercising their voting rights they cast votes on their own personal interest only and forget political parties and their manifestoes.
A Mobi who is also the president of All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) also said the people are fed up of political parties’ election campaigns which are full of promises that are completely forgotten after the formation of a new government.
Mobi in his analysis said that poll percentage of local bodies was quite high in compared to either general elections or Lok Sabha elections in the State. For instance, in 2007 general elections, the poll percentage was recorded at 84, and the 2009 Lok Sabha elections held in Manipur was also recorded 60 percent only, whereas the recent Autonomous District Council (ADC) and Imphal Municipal elections were participated by maximum number of voters. Such low turn out was a vivid example that signified the people are not interested in Parliament elections?
On the contrary, Rev. Prim Vaipei, president All Manipur Christian Organization was of the opinion that the public would go attached with political parties because there was no place for personality-cult.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/people-not-party-minded/
