As Sikkim yearns change, it should be the
change in perception
Having a strong opposition is a component of
Democracy
In the
midst of an ocean of political alacrity, Sikkim nestled amidst the Himalayas,
finds new player in the upcoming polls. The present ruling one is out on the
field to defend the title it has hold onto since the last 2 decades. The state
otherwise now infamous for tourism and its beauty is clinching hard to decide
on whether to choose the new face or retain the same.
Campaigning
in the state has begun rigorously blaming each other. Finding nooks and
mistakes of the previous government is the mantra that the new party is
envisioning to come to power. The previous one is up to defend by tagging the
new face as ‘Goondaas’ who are here to disrupt peace.
In a
democratic norm having an opposition is a positive sign. It puts a bar on the
ruling front on many aspects and it should at all times raise the standard of
democracy. The good thing for Sikkim this polls is that they have an option to
have opposition in the state assembly which could be any one of the major
parties vis-a-vis the SKM and the SDF if all goes fine until the counting. Sikkim
by all standards has not had any major opposition in the assembly ever since
its inception.
Having a
ruling party that owns all the MLA’s in a house only brings in autocracy and
that is dangerous. This assembly polls in Sikkim is significant no matter who
forms the government. But to have atleast a sizeable opposition in the house
should be a priority. The autocratic behaviour can be laid from the fact when
media—considered to be the third pillar of any democratic norms—was attacked
literally in broad daylights.
Democracy
survives when all its components performs in the right way. Tagging someone
merely as ‘goondas’ or digging out mistakes will not bring reforms. The state
in reality wants change in the approach of the government as well as the
opposition in handling democracy in the right way. Development ofcourse fine
tunes the democratic approach of any government whether that be Sikkim or the
neighbouring Darjeeling or anywhere else in the country.
The
Himalayan state may yearn for change. It may want reforms but the change should
be to eradicate autocracy. And that would be reached only we have a strong
opponent force in the assembly. The change should be to rob off monopoly. The
change should be to minimize corruption. Just a political change will not be
enough.
What if
we see a change where there is the same wine in the new bottle?
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