Editor,
Five days after the Chief Minister has taken oath and 10 days after the declaration of the election results we will finally have a full fledged government on 12th March. After AT Mondal, the Congress MLA created history by being elected as Speaker, the vote of confidence was a formality. The 12 member cabinet is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday without any hitch. By convention the final list of ministers had to be approved by the Congress supremo, Ms Sonia Gandhi. Considering that there are 29 Congress legislators, the delay in finalizing the Council of Ministers and the formation of the new government indicates that all is not well. Clearly there were too many aspirants who clamour to be included in the cabinet. All, including those who support the government, want to be ministers.
Following Ms Gandhi’s endorsement the Chief Minister had promised that the new ministry would be a “good blend of old timers and new faces.” But the list is disappointing. There are more old timers than new faces. The old timers, including the Deputy Chief Ministers (two for a tiny state) are the same incompetent, inefficient, non-performing bigwigs. Among the three women, one faces serious corruption charges. She is being investigated by the CBI in the ‘correcting fluid episode’. Only three, namely, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Clement Marak and Zenith Sangma, brother of the Chief Minister can be said to be new faces. The team was finalized merely as a balancing act to thwart imminent dissidence. It does not inspire confidence. It is old wine served in old wine skin with new patches! We can only hope that internal rebellions do not wrack the Congress party here.
Though the list is short of expectation, we expect the government to be stable and for the Government to last its full term. Hope there will be no musical chairs. Hope the senior (powerful and influential) Congress leaders don’t engage in infighting, power tussle and internal bickering. Hope the familiar story of majority claims and counter claims, parading supporting MLAs before the governor, rushing to and camping in Delhi are now things of the past. Hope the ugly and public antics and frolics of our leaders in the past are now history. Hope our leaders put the interests of the state before self.
At present, the Chief Minister has an advantage. The Congress High Command has faith and confidence in his ability and leadership. He is simply the best Congress leader at present to lead the state. The AICC President is unlikely to entertain anyone who wants to bring down the Mukul government. For a change, the state leaders too seem to be united in rallying behind the Chief Minister. The former Chief Ministers, DD Lapang and SC Marak respectively proposed and seconded Dr. Sangma’s name as CLP leader. Lok Sabha MP, Vincent Pala is less enthusiastic as most of his loyalists lost the elections. Prestone Tynsong’s ambition to be at the helm of affairs found no takers. Leave aside Mrs. Gandhi and our state leaders, the people of state want stability. The state deserves it.
The people of Meghalaya have given a clear verdict to the Congress to rule the state for five years. Now the Chief Minster, his government and all the elected representatives have to perform. They have to get on with the job of governance, administration and execution quickly. They have to keep the promises made during election campaigns. The government has to create jobs for youth in the government and private sectors, address the acute problem of poverty, improve education, health, culture, sports and tourism, ensure livelihoods for the poor, guarantee safety for women, complete road, rail, waterways and power projects, bring in the anti-corruption law, initiate peace talks with rebel groups and resolve the long standing border disputes with Assam’, as the CM himself promised when he assumed office on 5th March last. The road map is impressive, praise worthy and ambitious but the task is daunting.
Yours etc.,
Albert Thyrniang
Mendal, North Garo Hills
Wanted a share of the honey!
Editor,
Now that the big exercise is over and the people’s verdict is out, it is good to see that frayed tempers have calmed down, relationships are re-established and relatives, friends and fellow villagers of opposite camps have started talking to each other once again. Congratulations to the ‘winners’ and in the same vein, condolences to the ‘losers’. At this juncture, I am reminded of the post victory speech of Barack Obama when he won the Presidential elections for the first time. He graciously reached out to each and every American when he said something like this “…and to those who have not supported me, please remember that I am your President too…let us work together…”. I am certain that our victorious leaders are magnanimous enough to embrace everyone in their respective constituencies, irrespective of whether he/she was a supporter or not. I do hope that our leaders are above political and personal vendetta. I would conclude by narrating a conversation I overheard in the Tata Sumo I was travelling in during the last week of the hectic election campaign. In response to a heated debate on the pluses and minuses of various candidates, an elderly man said, “In my life time, I have taken part in several elections and have seen all types of leaders; but most of them are like someone who takes out honey from the bee hive and places it on the plate. The honey that is on the plate is meant for himself, his wife, his children and close relatives and that which gets smeared on his fingers is given to be licked by others”. All of us had a hearty laugh at his witty analogy though we clearly understood the message. Well, in the years to come, we humbly request the leaders we have elected to allow us partake of the honey on the plate and not be mere finger lickers. We have high hopes on you and, after all, hope is a poor man’s bread!
Yours etc.,
Gregory Kharumnuid,
Ri-Bhoi District