Triumph of Democracy 

The shadow of insurgency was looming large over the North-Eastern electorate with militant groups intensifying their campaign to sabotage the polls. Notwithstanding the terrorist threat, the manner in which the voters participated in the electoral process clearly proves that after years of unrest they are yearning for peace. String of explosions rocked Assam and Meghalaya days ahead of polling. Rebels in Manipur had issued a ban on electioneering by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Tripura, the outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force gave a call to boycott polls.

But ignoring the vote boycott call nearly 60 per cent electorate voted in Manipur. 62 per cent polling was reported from Tripura. Over 50 per cent voter turned out in Meghalaya and Assam recorded 65 per cent polling. Clearly, militant threat failed to stymie the voter turnout in the region and democracy has triumphed. That the militants are losing sympathy are evident from this. People are disenchanted with mindless killings, violence and extortion and desperate for peace. The high voter turn out is an indication that people in the region are all for upholding the democratic values and principles. There was no boycott call in Nagaland during last year’s assembly polls that allowed the Nagas to come to vote in large numbers. The spontaneity and enthusiasm shown by the Nagas in the assembly elections was a lesson to those who prevented them all these years to exercise their franchise. The huge participation of the Nagas ensured that before issuing poll boycott calls in future underground outfits active in the state will think twice. It is only these groups of undemocratic people that the Nagas are known more for their rebellion. But the Nagas have proved they are as democratic as anyone else in the country. Another interesting aspect of the voters in the North-East is the fact that more than the regional parties, they have supported national parties in parliamentary elections. For this reason, the North-East has so far remained a Congress stronghold. Now as the BJP is making its presence felt in the region, the fight this time is between the Congress and the saffron par ty. Regional parties baring the Asom Gana Parishad have mostly aligned with national parties. The courage shown by the North-Eastern populace will have far-reaching consequences in the coming days as far as combating insurgency in concerned.

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