Editor,
I wish to draw your readers’ immediate attention to the much publicised narrative that today one cannot beat the rich candidates in an election because they have too much money to throw around to donate (read pay/purchase) voters, religious leaders, religious representatives, myriads of sports clubs, sports organisations, NGOs etc to ensure their election victory and also to find favour for allotment of tickets by political party bosses.
Even politicians who could afford to drink the costly whisky and those who can afford to own the most expensive cars were dragged into the narrative that they enjoyed the luxury at the cost of the poor of the State.
Yes, in democracy, any citizen who has attained the requisite age has the freedom to contest MLA, MP or MDC elections whether he/she is rich or poor, highly educated or not very educated unless barred by the Representation of the People’s Act and Rules in force.
There is nothing wrong for rich people to fight for elections but they should not misuse their money to buy votes or influence the outcome of the election they are contesting. It is good for the rich contestants to donate to those in need but not during the forbidden period of the election.
But if the money he donates or gives comes from the public funds or from the public exchequer then it is a crime forbidden by law of God and men. But if he gives money to those in need out of his own accumulated private earnings during any other time which has nothing to do with elections but to help out those in need within his constituency or even outside then we call it charity.
There are many like that who have a large heart. About the personal food and drink or about owning expensive cars or any asset it is good to enjoy their food and drink or flank their proud possession but not at the cost of the people and the poor of the state. This is blatant looting the State’s public exchequer. My appeal is – let us vote judiciously and conscientiously in the 2023 Assembly elections by ensuring good, efficient, transparent, farsighted, dynamic, God fearing candidates and stable government.
Again, my appeal goes to the young, dynamic, educated promising and passionate young politicians to come forward to serve the State which is badly lacking in leadership to challenge the narrative that only the rich can rule the politics and the government in Meghalaya and, the common people, the poor and marginalised here are irrelevant and doomed forever. Yes, only change can bring about the magic and, sure, and together we can.
