By Albert Thyrniang
This piece is appearing after the tenure of the Meghalaya governor, RS Mooshahary has ended (July 7, 2013). The speculation of him being a ‘caretaker’ governor till a suitable candidate is appointed proved wrong as his successor is another cop, Dr. KK Paul who assumed office on July 8. Mooshahary took over on July 1, 2008. The retired BSF and NSG Chief’s appointment raised high hopes in this hill state. But in my assessment the term of office of the former IPS officer of the 1967 batch was largely disappointing. Though he may genuinely feel that he is leaving with a ‘sense of pride’, honestly his five year tenure was ordinary. Besides being accused of playing partisan politics and courting controversies the titular head did little to leave behind any significant memories on his departure.
Immediately after the Assembly election in March 2008, though the Congress bagged 25 seats, it was clear that the party would not be able to get the required number as the combined opposition MPA had earlier paraded 30 legislators before the governor. Yet RS Mooshahary chose to swear in DD Lapang as chief minister to lead a minority government. Sure enough the veteran Congressman could not enlist the support of other political parties to muster a majority in the house and had to resign before the stipulated 10 days expired.
This gave way to the formation of an NCP-UDP-led coalition government christened as the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA). On March 19, 2008 the MPA government led by Dr. Donkupar Roy was sworn in. The formation of a non-Congress government was not liked by the Congress bosses in Delhi and they worked determinately to remove the regional government. His Excellency, whose office demanded impartiality, was alleged to have obliged the Congress party and the Centre’s game plan. He was accused of being an agent of the government that appointed him governor. He ensured that the MPA government was short lived. The MPA government fell before completing a year in office as the Congress engineered a coup by successfully luring KHNAM boss and MLA Paul Lyngdoh, Ismail Marak (Independents) and Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai (NCP) away from the MPA fold. The Speaker, BM Lanong promptly disqualified the four (later three) rebel MLAs. However, the government won the trust vote on March 17th by a 29-28 margin because the Speaker himself cast his vote. Legally it was valid but seemingly to please the ruling party in Delhi, two days later, the governor controversially imposed President’s Rule in the state citing a constitutional breakdown.
Earlier the Governor seemed to have overstepped his constitutional limit by writing to the Speaker that the four disqualified MLAs be allowed to cast their votes during the vote of confidence. This was seen by political observers as a proactive role by the Governor to ensure the fall of the then MPA government which would eventually led to the formation of a Congress led government. The seven weeks of President’s Rule gave enough time to DD Lapang to learn from his previous mistakes. He assembled the requisite numbers and was sworn in Meghalaya’s Chief Minister for the second time in just over a year on 13th May, 2009 by the Governor. In a year Meghalaya had the dubious distinction of having four governments. Instability was the hallmark and the Governor contributed to that instability.
Leaving controversies aside for a while let’s focus on something else. On March 12th, 2013, speaking at a special programme on regional tribal and folk culture in Ramakrishna Vivekananda Cultural Centre (Shillong) to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, he observed, “People in the region (NE) are known for their slow work culture which is not helping things in the present situation.” Stressing on need for change in work culture, Mooshahary bluntly told the gathering that certain age old traditions must be changed to ensure rapid progress of the society. The existing work culture in the region requires a rethink for development of this part of the country, he further said. On another occasion while addressing the 62nd foundation day of the Bharat & Guides (7th November, 2012) the Governor made the observation that the government has granted too many holidays to its employees and appealed for limiting certain holidays only to the people who actually observe them and not to others who have little to do with these festivals. So at least on two occasions the Governor spoke on the need to improve the work culture in the state. But sadly, except during the brief period of President’s Rule in 2009, he did not or could not bring about a change in the work culture among the government employees. Neither were holidays reduced nor the old age traditions of chewing ‘kwai’ continuously, sipping tea frequently, chatting over a heater in winter brought to an end.
Today we are plagued with corruption in government officers. Files are not cleared and work not done unless money is offered under the table! The departing governor was a Visitor to the dubious CMJ University. The self appointment of Chandra Mohan Jha as Chancellor of the University without the approval of the Visitor was in clear violation of the CMJ University Act, 2009. How come the illegal appointment escaped the Governor’s attention for so long? Without UGC license/permission the private university was allowed to operate and function. It defrauded thousands of students through illegal enrolment and award of fake certificates and degrees. Their careers are in jeopardy. Their hard earned money wasted! The highly politically connected proprietor, Mr. Jha is still absconding. Left with no option the Governor ordered the closure of the University. But the damage done cannot be undone. The Governor may have retired but the CMJ University saga will continue to haunt the state. The mess and the chaos will linger on.
As with most Governors, Mooshahary too will relinquish his chair with little achievements to boast about. Is it that the nature of the office granted by the Constitution leaves them with no room to accomplish anything? If so, then the roles and functions of governors must be discussed and debated. There is nothing rigid and permanent. Governors can and must play much bigger roles than being ‘yes’ men/women signing on dotted lines. If governors feel helpless then they themselves must say so. My Political Science teacher once informed in the class that in the history of Independent India only one governor resigned in protest against the powerless role of state governors. Unfortunately my research failed to trace his name. Help me out. Post this information on Facebook.
Mooshahary’s succ-essor Dr. K.K Paul is a Ph.D in Chemistry and as former Delhi Police Commissioner he unearthed the match-fixing scandals and nabbed the illusive Charles Sobhraj. Dr Paul has enviable achievements, records and credentials. But will he be just another governor?