The Nagaland Baptist Church Council and churches have renewed their commitment to the Clean Election Movement, a cause the church has championed since 1975. For five decades the church has been the only consistent voice condemning vote‑selling as a sin, and this long‑standing witness is sincerely appreciated.
Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener has acknowledged that change has not progressed as expected. Formal meetings, seminars and resolutions held in platinum halls no longer resonate with the people of Nagaland. He argues that the church must alter its approach and adopt tougher, more extreme measures to achieve real impact.
The article proposes four extreme steps. First, candidates would swear on the Bible in the pulpit before taking office. Second, every grassroots worker would sign a covenant pledging adherence to clean‑election guidelines. Third, the church would organize Bible camps and revival programmes specifically for those involved in anti‑clean‑election activities. Fourth, each Sunday before an election, the entire congregation would stand and declare a pledge against vote‑selling, proxy, and the distribution of money or liquor.
The author contends that Naga society responds to extreme measures rather than polite requests. A courteous appeal from the stage will not deter a vote seller. If the church truly seeks a culture of clean elections, it must move from platinum halls to paddy fields, from formal programmes to revival grounds, and from preaching to covenant signing; otherwise the clean‑election slogan will remain confined to election season alone.
