Senior citizen icons appeal voters to choose leaders who put community first

February 27, 2023 37 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Tuensang | February 27

Former Minister of Nagaland, IL Chingmak, has criticized the lack of sacrifice among politicians today. The 85-year-old, who served as a member of Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 1969 to 1974 and as a Cabinet Minister of Nagaland in 1975, believes that there is a ‘negative energy’ surrounding recent elections in the state. Despite this, Chingmak he still wants to exercise his right on the day of the poll.

As one of the 12 chosen by the members of the Tuensang Regional Council to the Legislative Assembly of Nagaland, which was reserved for Tuensang district in 1969, Chingmak claims he has never missed an opportunity to vote since the 1974 election when the district first participated in the electoral process by exercising its right to adult suffrage (right to vote).

Chingmak observed that that faith between voters and politicians play a crucial role in ‘development.’ Without favouritism, if leaders work for development and welfare with honesty, they will earn the voters’ faith for the next election as well. “However, it works both ways, everybody is busy and are into it for personal gains and not for the community,” he maintained.

During the interview, Chingmak’s wife who accompanied him as he was having difficulty hearing, shared several incidents from his time as an elected member, including one where he reportedly returned unspent funds from the allocation for poor and disabled individuals back to the Government of Nagaland. She commented that such innocence and honesty is no longer prevalent in today’s political climate.

Meanwhile, K Chaba Chang, an 88-year-old resident of Kangshou Khel in Tuensang village, echoed Chingmak’s sentiments, saying that “politics is the heart and soul of community development.”

Chang has also never missed an opportunity to vote since 1974 and believes that his vote contributes to the community’s upliftment, employment, and education.

Chang hopes that a capable leader who thinks beyond personal interests will be elected in the upcoming election. He urges people to take the time to research and vote for individuals who are willing to put the community first.

“Every vote counts one way or the other and we must look at every individual and choose an educated representative in the cabinet. It’s our right to vote and it helps us determine what our future is going to look like,” he said.

Chingmak and Chang are two of the four senior citizen icons for Tuensang district from 53 Tuensang Sadar-I Assembly Constituency and 54 Tuensang Sadar-II Assembly Constituency, respectively.