By the Editor
Within eight months, battle for ballots will be announced by Election Commission of India (ECI) to elect members to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Many aspiring candidates, besides sitting legislators, are busy preparing for the crucial day which will decide their fate. During last few days and weeks it was quite common to see and read about politicians shifting party allegiance and seeking better and greener pasture. Situation will be more hectic in days to come and supporters too are not remaining idle but also busy listening to the mood of people and then calculating to arrive at correct answers. Meanwhile, political parties are well-occupied in recognising and inviting prospective candidates to their fold in order to get single majority for formation of government or play vital role after getting sizeable number of winners in forming coalition government with like-minded parties. It is interesting indeed and at times baffling when major parties boast that they will cross the half-way mark of 30 after election results will be announced. Even minor parties also cannot escape this kind of over-confidence due to excessive optimism which is however excusable. By adding all such projected figures, unbelievably total will surely exceed full strength of 60 or even double or more than double.
Democracy means government of the people by the people and for the people. In a democracy, elected representatives are supposed to be servants of the people and accountable to them. The word ‘minister’ comes from Latin which means servant or attendant. Vesta M.Kelly said, “A successful politician is one who can get in the public eye without irritating it”. If politicians render good service many people will take it for granted and may not bother to appreciate it all but if slight aberrations are made, public especially opponents will not hesitate to take advantage and jump at them with full fury. John Bailey commented, “ Politics is not a good location or a vocation for anyone lazy, thin-skinned, or lacking a sense of humour.” Good politicians, or for that matter good statesmen, know how to balance between whimsical and constructive opposition so that they need not spend endless hours on trivial issues and thus save time and energy. In democracy there is need of an enlightened public including the need of free, impartial and courageous but mostly responsible media.
People cannot merely shrug their shoulders and be indifferent to politics because more often when anything goes wrong they will be the first to raise a hue and cry. It is not enough to pray for the country or state but to also act as responsible adults. Recently on June 15, the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), Khanapara organised a seminar on politics for students in which eminent professors and teachers took part. On August 4, 2012 St. Edmund’s College, Shillong held seminar on electoral politics in the state of Meghalaya with inputs from teachers, activists and politicians for creating awareness among the public especially youths.