How an Independent candidate can rise to the helm of political affairs in the Congress in Meghalaya and subsequently become Chief Minister for two successive occasions is the story of Dr Mukul Sangma, the physician turned politician.
The 48-year-old doctor left his job as a medical practitioner in 1993 and joined the fray that year in the Assembly elections as an Independent from Ampati. He won the seat and subsequently associated himself with the Congress. After contesting the seat in 1998 on a Congress ticket, Dr Sangma got many assignments in the Government and he continued his winning spree with the latest victory in the February 23 polls.
Besides holding many important Cabinet portfolios, he has held the post of Deputy Chief Minister on two occasions when DD Lapang was the Chief Minister.
There were ups and downs in his political career and some political opponents had also predicted his downfall when he had to relinquish the post of Deputy Chief Minister following the twin firing incidents in Tura and Williamnagar which claimed many lives, mostly of youths, in 2005 over the restructuring of the MBoSE.
The Opposition NCP led by PA Sangma used the opportunity to improve its presence in Garo Hills.
However, Mukul silenced the critics since he could overcome the troubles related to the MBoSE imbroglio and was again elected in the 2008 polls.
In the past whenever there was a tussle for power by many potential chief ministers, Dr Sangma watched the development keenly, while biding his time.
In the political turmoil of 2010, Dr Sangma was a silent player, but subsequently emerged as a ‘dark horse’ in the race to the post of Chief Minister to replace Lapang in April that year.
When the cry for change of leadership became louder in the early parts of 2010, the name of then Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope followed by that of Prof RC Laloo had surfaced, but ultimately it was Dr Sangma who finally emerged as the next leader to replace Lapang.
Ever since Dr Sangma became Chief Minister in 2010, there was strong move to replace him by the dissidents, but it was spoiled by Mukul with the blessings of the Congress High Command.
The February 23 Assembly polls saw Dr Sangma emerging more powerful with the increase in the tally of the Congress legislators from seven in 2008 to 13 in 2013 in Garo Hills.
Though the Congress won 16 seats in Khasi-Jaintia Hills, the AICC and the Congress legislators supported Dr Sangma to the post of the next Chief Minister.
