Most people stick to one career throughout their lives, once chosen rightly or wrongly. Few do the opposite and very few do at a later stage.
Manas Chaudhuri, succeeded his father as Editor of this daily The Shillong Times way back in 1978.
Incidentally, his father who was in Congress wanted him to become a doctor not a journalist or a politician. But Manas turned into an incisive scribe and would have continued in the profession but for the untimely death of his brother in a copter accident in 2004. This tragedy catapulted him into the muddy water of politics. He became an Independent M.L.A. and later a Minister too in the regional party-independent combine for a brief period.
In the Assembly, Manas who very often criticized Congress party on the floor of the Assembly and outside joined the same party last year. He was even a party to the case filed in Supreme Court by Purno A Sangma against dismissal of the then Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government and imposition of President’s rule in Meghalaya.
The Shillong Times has not spared its former Editor after he joined politics. So much so that Chaudhuri once alleged that The Shillong Times was not giving him proper coverage. ST senior reporter Lamphrang Nongspung quizzed him on his joining Congress and other issues.
ST: You earned a name for yourself because of your oratory skills and in depth criticism of Congress ever since you became an Independent M.L.A in both your terms. So why this change of heart?
Manas Chaudhuri: My criticism was not directed against the Congress party but on the wrong policies of the Government. I have always critiqued the Government for its lapses and for pursuing inequitable and anti-people policies. I would continue to do so in the future.
I would not call it a change of heart. It is a wrong interpretation. I have joined the Congress because I realize that it is difficult to perform to the optimum level all by myself as an Independent MLA. In these eight years as legislator I was in the Government for one year and sat in the opposition for seven years.
I have realized that nothing has been done to resolve the pertinent issues which I had raked up in the Assembly and also outside the House.
I also realized that in 41 years Meghalaya has been plagued by the politics of instability which resulted in the under-performance of the Government.
I also feel that the Congress has the best capacity of providing stability. Therefore, in order to maximize my performance in terms of helping the people and the State and also to ensure stability, I have decided to join the party.
Also remember, I had held wide consultations and discussion with my supporters and well wishers before arriving at the decision.
ST: You claim that regional parties are responsible for unstable Governments in Meghalaya. But it is the Congress which changes its leaders many times over and broke the regional party led Governments. You were party to one such move against Congress in the last Assembly. Your comments?
Manas Chaudhuri: I agree that instability is a two-way traffic. As a party man, I assure that I shall work for stability and not be part of the move for frequent change of leadership. We need to back up an able leader who shall be elected after the Feb 23rd election.
ST: You said that regional parties are not strong enough to provide a stable Government unlike national parties. But instability is not a special feature of regional parties only. Look at Karnataka and your own Meghalaya; or for that matter Arunachal Pradesh whose CM is campaigning for you. How do you justify your stand that only Congress can give stable Government?
Manas Chaudhuri: I am of the view that no other political party including regional parties can match the Congress in terms of having an overwhelming presence across the State. I don’t think there is any political party which has set up candidates in all the 60 constituencies like the Congress has done in this election. It is evident from this fact that none of the regional parties are credible enough to secure an absolute majority.
On the other hand, I feel that the Congress which had 28 seats in the ongoing House has a fair chance of doing better this time and giving the people of the State a stable one party government in the next five years.
ST: It seems you are in favour of one party rule and against coalition politics. This is an era of coalition in Indian politics starting from the Centre to the states. There are more coalition Governments than single party ones. The Congress itself is in a coalition at the Centre for ten years and in many states for a long time. Your comments please?
Manas Chaudhuri: In a democracy, the ideal situation is to have a one party rule by gaining an absolute majority in the House. Coalition politics is a compulsion of recent times. I am not against coalition governments and the Congress is ready to have a coalition with any political party/parties if the situation demands after the announcement of the results. But I am of the view that such coalitions should have a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and a futuristic goal. There is no point of being in the Government if we do not have a common goal and target to achieve for the overall interest of the people of the State.
ST: You said that you joined Congress to do something for the state. The Congress party has been in power in Meghalaya for the most part since its inception. If it could not do anything significant so far what makes you believe otherwise?
Manas Chaudhuri: I agree that the Congress has not achieved much since we never backed up the efforts of the Government. We need to learn to engage and to appreciate the good initiatives taken by the Government.
There are various reasons why the Congress could not perform to its full potential. We need to bring in a new chapter since the people of the State deserves to be served better by the political class and by those in power.
ST: You claim that Mrs Indira Gandhi met the hopes and aspirations of the hill people. But you have forgotten that it was during Vajpayee’s rule that a separate ministry for North East was created and a non-lapsable central pool of resources was created by the NDA Government. Prior to that during Third front coalition Government a huge package was created for NE. Ten percent budget was also allocated for the region during that same period What has been the contribution of the Congress for the region in recent times?
Manas Chaudhuri: I never claimed that late Indira Gandhi had met all the hopes and aspirations of the people. This is a continuing process. I do not think so much of central assistance has been pumped into the State like in the recent past. Despite the State having only two MPs, they (Vincent H Pala and Agatha Sangma) had been accommodated in the Union Cabinet. Our plan money has also increased by over Rs 1000 crore this fiscal year. The biggest contribution of the Congress party is that it has given hopes and aspirations to special communities like the Khasis, Jaintias, Garos and other tribes.
ST: One last question about your ties with Congress. Is it not the same party during whose rule police knocked at your doors in the night to arrest you without any reason and without any warrant? Is it not the same party which kept you out of the MUA coalition even though the whole MUA/MDA joined Congress then minus the NCP?
Manas Chaudhuri: It’s a closed chapter.
ST: Now, please explain what you have done during your current term.
Manas Chaudhuri: I have a lot in the last five years in my constituency. Some of the things I have done are to provide drinking water supply, construction of roads and footpaths, giving financial assistance to school and colleges and helping the deprived families. I think I am the only MLA in the State who has donated his whole salary towards the uplift of health care facilities and providing financial assistance to the poor and upcoming entrepreneurs. It’s a long list.
ST: Do you think people will judge you with the same esteem and admiration that they did when you were an Independent MLA, now that you are a Congressman?
Manas Chaudhuri: I need to be wary that I do not compromise on my basic principles of honesty, integrity and my professional attitude. I have nothing to worry about. By joining the Congress, I now have a platform to serve the people of the State better.