The temperature is rising and will continue to rise in the coming days with the ensuing district council elections. But these temperatures and not those that would generate good heat to ensure a representative goes to the House carrying with him/her the promise to safeguard the rights, customs and interest of the tribal population, especially the dwindling forest that forms an important livelihood of a large section of the people.
So far no political party has gone to the people in the grassroot to explain on how they would go about safeguarding their rights except laying them down in a manifesto that perhaps a copy of it might not even reach a household. No doubt written words carry more authority than oral promises but the election manifesto could be considered a mute campaign material or empty promises because when the House is in order it does not even make a difference on the ground and neither people can prevent those in power from taking a decision that is not mentioned in the manifesto.
None will spell and make a detailed explanation of the manifesto supposed to be a guiding force during the election campaign. What takes centre stage in most political meetings or campaigns are insults, mudslinging, and distortions. No matter how often candidates swear they’ll run a positive, issues-oriented campaign, negativity seeps in, because a person’s mind is wired to focus more on negative information than positive information. On the other hand in this music loving state, more than the manifesto upbeat songs will attract connections not because a song will spread a viewpoint or an ideology (lengthy song is boring) but to evoke emotions and entertain and to build solidarity around candidates and platforms, so no one will care what the written declaration is all about.
Manifestos are supposed to be a determinant of the electorate’s choices which need to be cautiously examined by every eligible voter not the mudslinging, insensitive remarks or insults. Cautious citizens have read political manifestos. It is also time for a civil society initiative to inform political parties of what the electorate wants in the form of a citizen’s manifesto and not to depend on what politicians promise.
