Clean Election Movement (CEM) under the aegis of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has thanked the people of Nagaland for the courage and for standing by the pledge of clean election.
CEM convener Dr Villo Naleo in a press release said despite the limitations and challenges, he was encouraged and emboldened by the commitment of numerous individuals and organisations that came out in support and practised the principles of clean election.
According to him, these were the seeds of hope and indications of change that were slowly but would definitely shape the Nagaland that everyone envisioned. “Because we believe that the smallest of light is more powerful and will conquer the darkest and strongest of force that seems insurmountable,” he added.
As the 14th Assembly election drew to a close, he said CEM acknowledged that clean election could not be practised in letter and in spirit. He expressed sorrow and condemned in strongest terms that precious lives were taken needlessly. He mentioned that he was saddened by the rampant violence, malpractices and proxy voting.
Naleo said when national media reported about over 84% voters’ turnout in Nagaland, CEM’s head hanged in shame because each conscientious voter in Nagaland knew the reality reflected in the highly inflated turnout percentage.
He however expressed hope that with renewed vigour, commitment, lessons learned and faith in God, CEM would be reviewed and strategise the course of action. He also solicit continued support and active participation of all citizens, organisations and government establishments to make clean election a reality in the land.
Like all great social movements in history, he declared that CEM was for “our times in Nagaland”. When Nagaland Baptist Church Council initiated this in the beginning, he said the enormity of the task was well understood and that it would be a long and a tiring process too was fully appreciated.
He said they were fully convinced that the movement would stay on course “not by might nor by power, but by the spirit”.