From C K Nayak
JAIPUR: D D Lapang is a veteran congress man in true sense of the term. With a political career spanning nearly half a century Lapang became Chief Minister as many as five times in the mercurial politics of Meghalaya.
Lapang was one of the very few prominent Congress topleaders from the entire North East attending the three day long Chintan Shivir and All India Congress Committee meeting which ended on Sunday.
Lapang who is also currently Chairman of the North East Congress Coordination Committee spoke to The Shillong Times on issues discussed in the Chintan Shivir and AICC meeting about the North East before he left for the State.
Excerpts from the interview
ST: You were selected to one of the committees to deliberate on important issues in the Chintan Shivir. What are your comments on the outcome of the grand conclave?
Lapang: It was a good start. Lots of thing were discussed at the conclave. But as Soniaji pointed out this Chintan Shivir and AICC meeting is held during a time when Congress is trying for a hatrick at the Centre, retain power in states where it is ruling like in Meghalaya and wrest power from opposition ruled states. We will stand up to her expectations in the three assembly polls next month, seven to be held later this year and finally the Lok Sabha polls next year.
ST: Your state Meghalaya is going for polls only next month along with Tripura and Nagaland. In Meghalaya Congress is in power with regional parties and independents for a long. What will be the scene this time?
Lapang: Look. Congress has come out as the single largest party in most elections and last time it came with a record 26 seats which is a history in the state. We will improve upon that score and this time Congress will not only repeat that history but also better it by winning more seats this time. This way we will fulfill Madam’s wishes.
ST: But even despite winning a record 26 seats there were as many as four Governments in the last term. What is the guarantee that the state will have a stable Government even if your party comes with majority numbers?
Lapang: Let us go back to recent past. Since Congress was the single largest party with such a huge number the Governor invited me as then CLP leader to form the next Government. I performed my constitutional obligations by forming the first Government with the help of some Independents. But a rag tag coalition was formed just mustering the majority number. Obviously that collapsed and I was again asked to form the Government. Then there was a move to change leadership within our party and as a democratic leader I abided by their desire that time.
ST: In case the Congress comes back to this time will there be stability again considering the history of the hill state where only one Government could complete its full term so far and the average life term of the Governments lasts for one and half years on average?
Lapang: Even that one Government completing full term was that of Congress. This time since this time the Congress is coming with more seats there will be stability. The next Congress Government in Meghalaya will be stable and complete five year term.
ST: Who will be the Chief Minister if Congress comes back to power?
Lapang: Congress is a large democratic party. The Chief Minister is elected by the M.L.As and blessed by the party high command. Hence, the elected Congress M.L.As and Madam will decide the next Chief Minister.
ST: What about Tripura? As Sonia Gandhi hinted Congress lost power to CPM led Left Front more than two decades ago and there seems to be no chances this time too.
Lapang: Elections are fought to win. In West Bengal the same CPM led Left Front ruled for nearly four decades. Yet they lost to Congress and its offshoot Trinamool in last assembly polls. This time in Tripura Congress can come back to power.
ST: Nagaland was considered Congress bastion only a decade ago. What is your party’s expectation this time since there are serious infighting within your party unit?
Lapang: This time we are hopeful of forming the next Government in Nagaland. After all it is Congress Government at the Centre which initiated the peace process with the NSCN(IM) which turned the most disturbed state into a peaceful one now. About the infighting since elections have been declared the party will fight unitedly.
ST: The Congress President at her Chintan Shivir inaugural address spoke about inclusive growth and balanced development. What are your comments?
Lapang: It is only Congress which looks for inclusive growth of all with special focus on tribals and minorities. Under Congress rule there were major special packages for the North East. The Nehru-Gandhi family has a special heart for North East. For the first time the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself represents the region in Parliament for over a decade. Because of sustained development by successive Congress Governments more than half a century old insurgency is coming to an end in once disturbed North East.
ST: Sonia Gandhi also spoke about friendly relationship with neighbouring countries. Any comments?
Lapang: The historic injustice done to the North East with partition of the country was undone by the Congress Government opening up the border and making friends with the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar , Bhutan, Nepal and China. After 25 years Prime Minister visited Myanmar and made the relationship stronger. He took all the North East Chief Ministers who share border with Bangladesh in his last trip to Dhaka and there is no looking back now. Following that we have opened two border hats in Meghalaya with Bangladesh. More will come up in our next term.