By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With just five months left for the Assembly elections in the State, the emerging trend is that Meghalaya may yet again witness a coalition Government after the 2013 polls.
Indications are that no political party will get absolute majority, though the Congress may emerge as the single largest party.
Too many applications to secure a single party ticket in the run up to the Assembly elections and infighting in the Congress can put hurdles for the Congress to get absolute majority.
With too many political parties in the fray, the chances of the Congress crossing the half-way mark out of the total 60 in the House is a difficult task.
Besides the Congress, the UDP, NCP, the newly formed National People’s Party (NPP), the revived Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), HSPDP, BJP and KHNAM will be contesting the 2013 polls.
Moreover, efforts are being made by other political parties like Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and Trinamool Congress to contest the elections.
Though LJP had contested the 2008 elections, the party could not win a single seat.
Independent candidates can also play a crucial role in the Assembly election in Meghalaya. In the event of major political parties denying tickets to prominent leaders, they are likely to contest as independents.
Many independents who had won the elections in the past played a crucial role in Government formations. Congress working president Deborah Ch Marak recently said that the split in NCP and emergence of NPP will be advantageous to the Congress in Garo Hills.
However, this was contradicted by the NPP leadership by saying that the party has already started preparations for the Assembly elections by way of strengthening various blocks in parts of the State.
The Congress is aiming at getting absolute majority in the House so that it can form a Government on its own.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma recently appealed to the people to elect any party which can provide stability as Meghalaya had witnessed too many change of governments and threats from the coalition partners to withdraw support from the Government.
Dr Sangma also indicated that he wants to carry on with the development initiatives undertaken by him meaning that there should not be any frequent change of leadership.
The Congress has 28 legislators at present followed by UDP (10) including the KHNAM entrant Paul Lyngdoh, HSPDP (2) and five Independents.
There were as many as 15 NCP legislators after the Assembly elections in 2008.
However, after the recent merger of the NCP legislature wing with the NPP, two legislators out of the total of 15 – Sanbor Shullai and Adolf Hitler Marak – remained with the NCP.
The Tura seat is currently vacant after PA Sangma resigned as MLA to contest the Presidential poll while the Chokpot seat fell vacant with the death of sitting legislator MM Sangma recently.