Clean electoral Politics: pragmatic approach of the 21st Century
"Do elect useful leaders', but not only revered one"
~ Sangluai Ngaihte*

Since 21st October 1949 our princely state Manipur was annexed into the Indian union, later on 21ST January 1972 it was promoted to a full-fledged state. From then, we the people started becoming aware of the streamline in parlance to electoral politics. Electoral politics mainly focuses on societal, community and dynamic infrastructure development for the society; and also on policies concerning the welfare of the people. There is no doubt that the main theme of winning election are basically based on all the above mentioned areas in general (i.e. Delivering the needs of public). Dynamic development is the main action each and every respective candidate in an election are supposed to abide by it. We are aware of the fact that our elected representative's main responsibility is to make a policy and become a guardian of such policy which can reach all sections of people. Such kind of hope and expectation is what the people in general had upon our representatives. But as time passes, the expectation and hopes of the people keep on fading away. The main reason is due to corrupt electoral politics.

Not only our representatives corrupted, we the people are equally guilt because we sell out our votes for money. This system has become a kind of tradition. Article 326 of the Indian constitution grants universal adult suffrage, according to which every adult citizen of India (above 18 years of age) is entitled to cast his or her vote in all state/Central election; such kind of exercising people's choice is not practiced to its extend in our context.

Truth is what people want, but cynicism makes the people participate in the false system. Only Money and Muscles power holders have the chance of winning election, but not the righteous and dedicated ones who genuinely work for the welfare of the people. Some candidate may give a good speech not from the heart but from superficial thoughts and selfish intentions; his or her kind hardly delivers on promises made during election and ignored grievances of the people if got elected. This is still prevalent in our context. So, Where do we stand now, we the people?

All young enlighten educated society are extremely fed-up of the system we have been followed till now. But none possess the willingness nor the determination to hold the dais and stand firm for righteousness to suppress our corrupt system. There is No doubt that a 100 per cent corruption free election cannot be maintained in our electoral politics, but to some extent if we strive for it, at least 50 percent of the peoples effort will bear good result. This is what we the educated youth expect in our political system. Let's take an initial experience: From one of the most developing, but neo-corrupt town of Churachandpur; There's' A Man of well Foreign-educated, intelligent, Having great exposure, experience, Social concern and altruism have the confident fighting of corrupt system by contesting an MDC Election. Being a Social Worker/Activist, I have him followed every move he made and as such I can say truthfully I followed the right man. His main focus is to win an ADC election and work accordingly to the will of the people, maintain transparency and make the governance system work accordingly right form the grass root level. He declared to the public that "My aim in life is to be famed for a good cause and my people will be the beneficiaries". He contested the ADC elections with great hope and firm determination without any malpractice in areas like: Bribery, forging, buying of votes, luring others by paying money, and avoiding political suicide. The outcome? Truth prevailed, his methods worked and the proof was revealed when the ADC result was declared. It was the first of a kind in Churachandpur history, that a Candidate won an election without resorting to any unfair practice. This stated empirical evidence shows us that, if we really strive for truth and stand firm for righteousness, the opportunity to subside our corrupt society is always there for us. It also proved that people are already fed-up with our obsolete system, and are now aware of our adult franchise value.

In this contemporary world, the untainted youth of the Nation felt hesitant to get involved in corrupt politics because of our distorted system. However there is a measure for "swachh Bharat corrupt free mission",i.e, being ourselves in the new system for corrupt free politics; If we stand firm, have courage and fight for true dignity, there is hope for a new dawn of a corruption free environment. For better remedial measure of Free corrupt electoral politics, every citizens must be aware of our vote value; Citizens must have social concern for development; must trust a leader who have experience, pragmatic, altruism, sympathy for the society; must trust a man of dignity, usable for the society not of only great honoured. And in the process of selecting representatives, critical observation is very crucial; one must never forget that power lies in the hands of the people not of the leaders. We must not make our self-cheap by selling our votes, and instead we must know our value. So, in return the credit for development will be in the hands of the people and our dignity will rise.

Based on observation, witnesses and from mass public interaction, we can clearly determine that the door is always open for those who have the guts to stand firm for righteousness .Be it in politics or any social involvement do not be the tainted victim, but be that unique policy maker or team who can stand for righteousness. You and I must take responsibility for it. This systematic corruption free approach for building our society will be a blessing for the people and the land. Lest we forget, power of leaders' lies in the hands of the people. If Leaders fails, nation fails, and the people suffer.