Jyothi and Raj write about the conference of electoral reforms recently held in Manipur and report on the formation of the Manipur chapter of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India.

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Manipur Conference, 25-26 May 2009: Today we have just completed the State Conference of Manipur as part of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI). The Conference ended on a very exciting note much beyond the anticipation of all of us. It was a two full days conference but has also spilled over to the third day with some early morning meetings and press conference. We know well that Manipur is a difficult terrain with complexities much of which is caused by the Indian Army. Our Manipur State Coordinator, Mr Babloo Loitangbam is a popular figure here and he was able to mobilize eminent people and social activists.

Prof. Bimola Devi who chaired opening session invited Archana Casmir, the Coordinator of CERI to kick-start the Conference with Keynote Address, which she did very efficiently. After that Dr. Bimola Devi said that Proportionate Representation is the need of the hour. Majoritarianism always means the dominance of India. Political socialization is starting through CERI. It must reach the grassroots level. This is the first time that such a discussion is taking place in Manipur.

Dr. Nara Singh who is a former minister in Manipur was not only a resource person. He is the national vice-president of Indian Affiliate of the International Physicians for the
Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW, recipient of Nobel Prize, 1985). He is from the
Communist Party of India. Remained with the Conference for two full days and has become a member of the Executive Committee of CERI in Manipur. He said the following:
“Democracy is a historical process. It has to go on evolving and has to be strengthened.
Society has to be constructed in a scientific way. There has to be a very satisfactory system of election. This reform proposed by CERI will take place in the country sooner or later. But the sooner the better. History of mankind is long. Democracy was the need of the humankind. Now we have to struggle for social justice. Human rights for everyone should come into electoral reforms and democracy. But today let us agree that democracy in India is very imperfect and is in need of reforms. Democracy is not yet mature in the country. Evolution has been supplemented by revolutionary processes.

CERI will have a place in the history of the country because electoral reform will take place in this country soon. The crisis is so big that you cannot get justice in the present
democratic set up of India.”

There was Dr. R.K. Anand who is a sitting MLA from the Manipur People’s Party said, “Only 30% of people have been successful. The remaining 70% have failed in the elections in India. There is a need for radical change in the electoral system of India. Manipur has just only one MP in the Rajya Sabha of India. This leads to political alienation. It calls for a drastic change in the Constitution of India especially with reference to electoral system. The bottom line is that people are not represented though they vote for the candidate and party.

If people are not represented the practice of democracy is a big farce. We are practising
politics to deliver goods to the people and to deliver justice. Unless we work for the
reformation of electoral politics the crisis in India will remain forever and will never be
addressed.”

The growth of regional parties is because people have lost faith in the national parties in
India. There are region specific problems and national parties have failed to address these
issues. He wished CERI success on behalf of his party.

Mr. Irengbam Arun who is the Editor of Ireibak Daily in Manipur was present for the two full days and actively participated in the Conference.

Mr A K Sethajit who is the Head of the Department of Political Science in Imphal College thanked CERI for bringing the idea of Proportionate Representation to Manipur. He said that constitutional provisions have not been good for the governance of Manipur.

Dr. A K Bimol who is an Associate Professor in Jawaharlal Nehru University had much to reflect on the present state of affairs in India. According to him things have changed for the worse in Manipur and they are not good for our children. Manipur will be reduced to a slum of the shining India.

There are models of democracy in history. Competing models are there. There are also
models of competitive republics. Some of these European experiences have been imported into India.

Sovereignty cannot be represented just as it cannot be alienated. English people are free
only during election time. After elections they become slaves. Notion of representative
democracy is problematic.

Along with substantive democracy and procedural democracy there is also an idea of
deliberative democracy. This is the emerging model of democracy in contrast to
participatory democracy. Increased participation does not necessarily address the quality of participation. Participatory democrats dismiss deliberative deficits. Should we build
democracy on reasonable practical judgments?

In Manipur if there is no deliberation the government can get away with its decisions.

We are blank. We are just floating. Deliberative democracy is the need of the hour in
Manipur. The nature of our leadership must change. Why is it that Manipur does not have a regional political force? This has to be asked. Farooq Abdulla has said that just because
people come out and vote it does not mean that the issue of Kashmir is dead. How about
the opinion of some Manipur people who do not think that they are not Indians? The need is to create a politically conscious people.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi Brara who is from the Centre for Manipur Studies in Manipur University brought in the Gender dimension to the discourse on electoral reforms.

As we concluded the first day’s proceedings we came to know that there was a call for
strike the next day in Imphal as one of the professors was shot dead in the university by
miscreants. We had planned for work in our rooms. However, more participants turned out for the second day despite the strike. This was amazing as people wanted to listen to the lectures of M C Raj. We could start only at 11 in the morning. Raj went on till 13.30 with his presentation of the evolution of democracy in history and the different electoral systems.

 
After lunch they assembled again to discuss with Raj on his presentations. It went on till 16 hours. The quality of discussions was simply astounding as most of them were professors in the University. M C Raj’s responses drew a round of applause from all eminent people.

Dr. Sadananda who chaired the lectures of M C Raj said, “I can say for myself I have learned a lot today. I think there is still hope. The world can become a better world with hundred thousand flowers with beautiful colours. We have problems. Thousands of them! If we solve the problem of employment in Manipur half the problems of Manipur can be solved. What Manipur needs today is a culture of peace. CERI has arrived at the right time. This is a very positive proposal to resolve many of our problems. On the basis of the proportionate representation of the people it will become possible”

Ms Helen took the chair for the Final Session
All those who wanted to commit themselves to the continuation of CERI in Manipur were requested to make a pledge that they will be part of the Manipur Chapter of CERI. Except about five people the rest pledged. The Conference ended formally at this stage with the understanding that all those who pledged their support would meet in the Dining Hall to elect the Executive Committee of CERI – Manipur

Dr. Nara. I take this very seriously and it is very practical too. Let everybody write in a piece  of paper of his/her commitment to work for CERI. We are making new history. This is a historical process. This is the beginning. We shall go round and make it a success.

K H Romason volunteered even to give two days a week for the Campaign.

After the Conference almost all who volunteered met over a cup of tea and formed a State
Committee under the name CERI – “Manipur State Committee” with Babloo as the
Coordinator and Ms Nonibala as the Co-Convenor. The Executive Committee is a heady
mixture of Intellectuals, academicians, politicians and activists.

This is indeed a marvelous experience of replenishing energy in Manipur.



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