Vincent H Pala is a politician from Meghalaya who emerged as an important player in the State politics. No one knows what is going on in his sharp mind. Friends and foes all meet him as he is a man for all seasons since he mingles with everyone.
After becoming an MP for the first time after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, very quickly he spread his wings to the political echelons of the National capital.
Pala applied for party ticket for the first time in 2009 and won the seat to succeed PR Kyndiah to represent Shilloing Lok Sabha constituency.
Soon he became a Union Minister even as a first timer when NCP MP from the state Agatha Sangma was already nominated as a Union Minister. He also got an additional portfolio when none of his counterpart got the same. But he was dropped along with Agatha just few months before the State was to go to polls.
But with announcement of the Assembly elections in the hill state, Pala is back to hectic political activity. It is said that he pushed many names in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and also fought for a few in Garo Hills. He met both Ambika Soni, Chairperson of vital screening committee and Mukul Wasnik, newly appointed AICC General Secretary in charge of Meghalaya first even when some of the top leaders were not aware of the developments.
His house in Shillong has a big banner which carries pictures of all the top Congress leaders of the State and the Centre barring his. This signifies how he does not come to the front but pulls strings from behind.
In the last part of a series of interviews The Shillong Times had with different leaders cutting across party lines, Pala speaks to C K Nayak, the Delhi based Special Correspondent of the paper.
ST: All Congress leaders are claiming that the party will come back to power with majority and form the next Government on its own. Do you think so?
Pala: Yes we are confident. Last time we got 25 seats and this time we will cross that mark and form the next Government.
ST: It is said that most of the candidates in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills are your nominees. Your comments?
Pala: Congress candidates are selected form block level and district level committees and MPCC after several meetings. Then it goes to the Screening Committees and finally to the Central Election Authority of AICC which gets party President’s nod. I as an M.P cannot support or oppose any candidate since I have to take help of all during Lok Sabha polls. I also have to see the overall party interest.
ST: Will you put your hat in the race for Chief Ministership?
Pala: There is no race as such to become Chief Minister. And you know how a Chief Minister is selected in Congress. Moreover, I am neither an M.L.A nor contesting for the same. If I would have wanted I could have contested in the Assembly polls. If I can win as an M.P I can also win as an M.L.A.
ST: You can become Chief Minister than become M.L.A. within six months as stipulated in the constitution.
Pala: In Meghalaya there is no such tradition of a non-M.L.A becoming Chief Minister. Veteran leaders who were elected M.L.As have fallen like nine pins with average life span of one and half years. I am not going to enter into that game of musical chair.
ST: So you are scared of the Chief Minister’s Chair?
Pala: I am not. Not at all. I want to gain experience at the Centre as of now. I am happy at the centre.
ST: But you are no more in the Union Ministry?
Pala: Remaining in the ministry or not is not important for me. I am the lone party M.P. from Meghalaya in the Parliament. I shall explain you the situation under which I tendered my resignation from the Ministry. I was called by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and was told that Soniaji wants persons like you to work for the party. I immediately submitted my resignation then and there. Later I met Madam and was told the same thing. Hence, I am working for the party since then.
ST: There were talks of you becoming an office bearer in the AICC?
Pala: There are talks of AICC reshuffle. If it comes it is ok. Otherwise I shall continue to work for the party as I am doing now. I have no regrets rather I am happy and a free man.
ST: It is said that your house remains as centre of all political activities whether to remove Lapang or to reinstate the veteran.
Pala: That is not correct. During peak of all such developments I was out of Delhi and in fact out of the country mostly for Government work. I was never involved in any such move you are referring. Yes. As the lone M.P. I was asked to give my opinion on such important issues by the AICC leaders and others. I did that as an M.P. and party man from the state. As far as my house is concerned yes most political leaders come to my house. Even people from other walks of life also do come to my house since I am from Meghalaya. Just because I have space and they are my friends I treat them. You know it is the tribal tradition.
ST: It is said that you have lots of money.
Pala: (Laughs) There is no definition to lot of money. It differs from person to person as per his occupation, status saving habit and many other factors. And I had money even before I joined politics since I was in coal business. I was also lucky which ever land I bought for coal mining had coal reserves. It is also luck. I have enough money to sustain me and my family in life.
ST: It is said that you are accessible and acceptable to many not only within Congress and but also other parties.
Pala: That is a complaint or compliment.(Laughs)?
ST: What are your achievements in the four year as a Union Minister?
Pala: I was a Minister of State first in charge of Water Resources and then in Minority Affairs also. I discharged my duties to the best of my capacity. And as far as the State is concerned in all major projects and problems I took up the case with the concerned authorities. I must have met almost all the Union Cabinet Ministers on various issues plaguing the state. I followed up the issue of infrastructural sectors like roads, railways and airports. I also took up the issues troubling institutions like NEIGRIHMS and NEHU.