By Albert Thyrniang
The nation is gearing up for Lok Sabha election 2014. The 9 phase marathon general election, spaced over a month, from April 7 to May 12 is the world’s biggest democratic exercise. The long and suspended election is excruciating as the results will only be announced on May 16. The 814 million eligible voters are larger than the population of Europe. Amazing! The sheer number made the Election Commission go for Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) instead of the ballot papers. Voters will be in queue in 9,30,000 lakh polling stations. It is an election wonder.
The once in a five year Universal Adult Franchise provisioned by world’s longest Constitution attracts attention from all over the globe. Thousands of observers come to research this marvellous event. India will be in the spot light, thanks to electronic, print and social media.
The process leading to the actual polls is equally remarkable. The 2009 Parliamentary Election had 8070 candidates, a 20% increase from the 2004 election. 2014 might see us cross that number. A casual observation of the electioneering process – filing nominations, scrutinizing, campaigns, manifestos, political speeches of big wigs, etc – gives a sense of the marvel. On their scheduled dates the 28 states and seven union territories will elect the 543 members who will constitute the 16th Lok Sabha.
In Meghalaya the D-Day is April 9. Two seats are up for grabs. In Shillong, the Congress, after infighting, re-nominated the sitting MP, Vincent Pala. The UDP, defying regional parties’ opposition went for its Working President, Paul Lyngdoh. The HSPDP and KHNAM have fielded ‘independent’ candidate, Reverend PBM Basaiawmoit. The BJP’s candidate is Shibun Lyngdoh while that of the CPI is Richard D Shabong. Making its debut for AAP is Amerington Kharshiing. Independent candidates, Ivoryna Shylla and Denis Siangshai complete the list of eight in the fray.
In Tura the Congress ‘corrected the typing error’ to nominate Daryl Momin. The NPP supremo, PA Sangma decided to contest himself. It will be a straight contest between the novice and the veteran. Twenty seven year old Daryl Momin is the grandson of Captain William Sangma, the first Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He has a MBA degree from Bond University, Australia. PA Sangma on the other hand is a household name in Garo Hills. A national figure, he has been in public life for nearly 40 years. He is former Chief Minister, Union Cabinet Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker and a presidential contestant.
Who will be the winners from the hill state? A long wait but May 16 will come. In the mean time we could ponder on who to vote for. It depends on us the 14,90,015 who form the electorate to decide whom to send to the 1397 miles distant national capital to represent us.
On what pattern will the voters vote? Will we vote on party lines? Will we go by ideology or religion or qualification or capability of candidates? Will we vote for the right candidates? Will we make the right choices?
In Garo Hills there are pertinent issues. The major issue is militancy and law and order. Mushrooming militant outfits are of grave concern. Extortions, kidnaps, killing, attacks on civilians and security forces and violent activities have been common. Youths are turning to gun-yielding groups. PA Sangma justified his return to electoral politics on the basis of the deteriorating law and order situation. He observes that the adverse situation is due to the leadership failure.
Mr. Sangma has a proposed solution to militancy – Garoland. While promising to champion the people’s movement for a separate state, he appealed to armed outfits to give up arms and fight for this cause democratically. Has the long serving politician picked up this emotional issue to see him through? If elected he may raise the issue in parliament, but it is expected to be long and tedious. How much progress will he make? Will the rebel groups have the endurance to engage with the Union Government? Will they display impatience in the face of road blocks and obstacles? A couple of days back a group threatened to target the Congress, its workers and supporters if the government did not clarify its position on the outfit’s proposed peace talk? The government had to comply? Will similar situations arise? Will militants give up arms if Garoland is pursued?
The Chief Minister, Dr. Mukul Sangma, patron of Daryl Momin, on the other hand seems to favour peace talks with all militant groups under one common text agreement. Is this feasible? Will he be able to work out a comprehensive modality for dialogue with various groups? Will all groups agree to come to a common platform? It may be recalled that in 2004 when the ANVC signed the Peace Pact with the Central and State government, a section of the ANVC cadres formed the GNLA in 2009. GNLA itself broke up with the emergence of ASAK. The ANVC too split vertically in 2012 with the formation of ANVC-B. Again when the ANVC-B entered into peace talks, the United Achik Liberation army (UALA) and Machadu Matchabet walked away.
On this issue it is a difficult choice but the voters have to decide on a person who will be most capable of bringing back the much needed normalcy and peace in the hills.
As clear from the Shillong Times’ report, “Underdevelopment of Garo Hills-Mukul faces public ire” (March 29, 2014) the most important issue for the common people is (under)development. Backwardness is written all over rural Garo Hills. We see deplorable roads, incomplete and broken wooden bridges, absence of electricity and water supply, non-functioning PHCs, pathetic school buildings and teachers’ absenteeism.
Both parties have pointed fingers at each other. The CM accused his ‘former mentor’ of taking the people for a ride during his long political innings. Rubbishing the allegation, PA Sangma challenged Congressmen to read his book, Talatani to find out his achievements. He also branded the CM as CM of Ampati, diverting huge funds to his constituency. Denying the charge, the CM enumerated his developmental initiatives all over the state. Charges and counter charges fly thick and fast but voters have to choose for a candidate with a roadmap for development. But does any candidate have one?
For unemployed youths nothing matters. The issue is unemployment and scarcity of jobs. Can the youths engage with candidates and ask them of the plan they have in creating job opportunities? Can the young voters demand skilled-based institutes and non-formal training institutes to be set up in the region as a bargain to secure their votes? Can they suggest for more higher secondary schools and colleges with job oriented courses? Without vision unemployment in Garo Hills will persist.
In keeping with the national trend, political discourse in the state has sidelined issues and focussed more on name calling, impractical promises, rhetoric, even calumny and slander. Will voters too forget real issues? Will they be swayed by money and liquor? Affidavits (tip of an iceberg) show most candidates are wealthy. They are crore-patis. They have the cash to splash. Be under no illusion! Money will be used freely. It would be unfortunate if voters side track issues in favour of cheap, immediate and personal gains.