Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) relaunched its Clean Election Movement on August 28. The initiative targets persistent electoral malpractice, including vote-buying and bribery. NBCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Mar Pongener addressed the skepticism surrounding the cause during the launch in Kohima. He noted the common belief that reform is impossible in the state. "There is a common remark we often hear among our people: 'Clean election will never be possible in Nagaland,'" Pongener said.
Pongener emphasized that the initiative requires moving beyond awareness programs. He argued that programs create awareness, but a movement builds commitment. The current system often treats elections as financial transactions. Voters frequently trade ballots for money, alcohol, or gifts. This cycle forces candidates into high-cost campaigns that prioritize personal gain over public service.
The consequences of these practices are severe. Poor governance, nepotism, and the misuse of public resources often follow corrupt elections. The NBCC now calls for a cultural shift in how Nagaland views leadership and civic duty. Churches play a central role in this strategy. They must teach voting as a moral responsibility while maintaining institutional integrity. If churches tolerate dishonesty, they lose their voice.
Villo Naleo, secretary of the NBCC social concern department, described the movement as a non-partisan effort. It aims to foster transparent and ethical democratic participation. Pongener urged citizens to reject all inducements during campaigns. He characterized individual acts of integrity as vital seeds for long-term change. The goal is to make honesty a way of life rather than an election-season slogan.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 2:00am
A breakthrough emerged from Natha New village in Zunheboto, which served as a practical blueprint for the movement. Ghunato Assumi, associate pastor of Sumi Baptist Church, detailed how the village banned intoxicants, blocked political posters, and barred candidates from door-to-door campaigning. By rejecting all cash and material handouts, the community ensured voters picked leaders based on merit rather than bribes.
Assumi noted that the village's success required a total commitment from church leaders, village heads, and residents alike. The village treated the election as a test of collective character, proving that local communities can override the state's entrenched money-driven politics through unified, ground-level action.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 10:00am
Pongener stressed that the Church must hold itself to a higher standard. He warned that the organization loses its moral standing if it demands integrity from politicians while ignoring favoritism or dishonesty within its own walls. He pushed for a shift in perspective, telling supporters that churches should not be discouraged by slow progress or despair over the persistence of corruption.
The council issued a specific mandate for its congregations to teach, pray, reject, resist, choose, challenge, model, and empower. This checklist forces church leaders to move past generic sermons and take a hard stance against the exchange of cash, alcohol, and gifts for political loyalty.
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