By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Policeman turned politician, Kennedy C Khyriem, had a unique campaign style which included taking into confidence the goodwill of butchers, auto rickshaw and taxi drivers which ensured his entry into the 9th State Legislative Assembly.
The butchers and drivers of Mawphlang spread the word for a change and this was one of the factors which helped Khyriem to register a win from Mawphlang.
Congressman Khyriem, who defeated UDP veteran and former Minister John Antonius Lyngdoh, also said that another unique campaign style which he had adopted was that his wife, Mercy Lyngdoh, attended all the meetings together with him and spoke about the need to elect him for a change in the constituency.
Khyriem, whom Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma described as a giant killer for defeating the three-time MLA from UDP, also did not believe in big public meetings since he either chose to have one-to-one meetings with the voters or attended small gatherings.
In the small meetings, Khyriem showed the documentaries he had prepared on the muddy roads and thatched houses in the constituency and called upon the people to vote for a change.
The voters ensured a change, as sitting legislator Lyngdoh was defeated by Khyriem by a huge margin of 3,344 votes in the February 23 polls.
It was on November 8, 2007 that Khyriem resigned from the post of officer in charge of Mawngap police outpost to contest the 2008 Assembly election for the first time.
But he was defeated by his rival (JA Lyngdoh) by a margin of 717 votes.
However, Khyriem did not remain pessimist and worked hard for the party for the last five years hoping for a comeback.
Khyriem recalled that during the campaign to the by election for the Umroi seat in 2009 for Congress candidate Stanly Wiss Rymbai, he was attacked by UDP supporters at Lawbyrwa.
“I had no other choice but to run to the jungle after my vehicle was smashed,” Khyriem recalled.
When the Congress returned to power, Khyriem was nominated as an MDC and subsequently he became the Deputy Chairman of the KHADC.
“After my first defeat in 2008, I maintained a low profile, but I continued to prepare for the election,” Khyriem said.
“While you are in the police, you don’t know much about politics, but I gradually understood that there should be a different strategy to win the election,” Khyriem said.
According to Khyriem though many people may rally behind the candidates showing support in the run up to the elections, he does not want to trust all.
“Stand by yourself and trust no one is my policy,” Khyriem said.