By Albert Thyrniang
Amidst boycott by pressure groups and bandhs called by anti-social elements, election to the thrice extended GHADC is over. Defying the bandh and boycott calls by NGOs and threats and intimidation by
militant organizations the voters did well to come out in thousands to exercise their franchise on 12th October. Though recording a low 60.66 per cent turn-out, as compared to 79.48 in 2009, the people of Garo
Hills must be complimented for keeping the democratic process alive and vibrant. In four polling stations in militant infested areas, however, there was nil voting because the voters succumbing to fear of
the guns. Prior to the election opposing NGOs (against non-tribal candidates and voters) organized public meetings and rallies throughout Garo Hills educating people of the importance of keeping the GHADC exclusively for tribals/Garos. Having done their work, they should have left it to the wisdom of the electorate rather than imposing a boycott. The blame for inclusion of non-tribals in the election process of GHADC should be solely placed on the previous successive houses rather than on the innocent voters. If KHADC and JHADC have a legislation barring non-tribals from contesting and voting, why has GHADC not made the necessary law? Now it’s up to the NGOs to impress upon the present house to resolve the problem once and for all. Protests on the eve of elections will not bring about a permanent solution. In 2009, similar objections were raised and non-tribal voters were deleted from the electoral rolls. This time the government and the administration stuck to the rule book. Why this flip-flop?
With the High Court of Meghalaya banning bandhs one had hoped that bandh culture had come to an end. But not so soon! On August 14-15 this year the proscribed GNLA declared shutdown of the entire of Garo
Hills via SMSes. This time, unknown persons, did it through pamphlets and posters. The law and order agencies should have filed suo moto FIRs against miscreants for contempt of court. Similarly the law
enforcing agency should have acted against those who forwarded SMSes calling for a bandh on 14-15 August. However, something positive happened this time towards ending the cursed bandh culture in the
region. The Chief Executive of Tura Municipality Board issued show-cause notices to traders and shop keepers in Tura for downing their shutters on the bandhs days (Aug 14-15). This time, on bandh
days the enthusiastic officials personally made sure that business carried on as normal. Hats off sir! Having emerged as the largest party, the NPP was expected to form the Executive Committee of the autonomous council. The Garo Hills Progressive Alliance (GHPA) was formed soon after the declaration of the results. Surprisingly, however, there were rumours that Conrad Sangma, son of the NPP boss, PA Sangma would be elected as the Chief Executive Member. Thankfully someone pointed out and rightly so that the post of CEM cannot be held by a nominated member.
Meghalaya and particularly Garo Hills will be reeling under family politics for a long time to come. Dynastic politics, by design, is common on both sides of the fierce political divide. PA Sangma is an MP. His eldest son, James is an MLA. Conrad himself was also an MLA and now the proposed CEM. His daughter, Agatha won the 2004 election banking on the popularity and status of her father. Equally impressive
is the family of Congressman, Dr. Mukul Sangma. He is the Chief Minister of the state. In the last election his wife, Dikkanchi D.Shira was elected to the Legislative Assembly. His brother, Zenith is a legislator and minister. And now the younger brother’s better half, Sadhiarani M Sangma is an MDC. This does not augur well for a forward looking society. Power is concentrated in two families. Family ties to
the fore, merit to the back burner! The Congress lost the election because of the blatant and massive corruption in the previous administration. The former Chairman, the Executive member, and the all sitting Congress MDCs (except one) bit the dust for corruption charges rather than anti – incumbency. RTI findings revealed that lakhs of rupees in Council’s schemes were siphoned off for personal gain. There were charges of bribes being taken from bidders for council gates and illegal traders. An inquiry was ordered by the state government to go into the multi-crore scam but the report of the one-man Judicial Inquiry Commission is gathering dust in the District Council Affairs department. Financial mismanagement which resulted in the inability of the Council to even pay its own employees for months was also reported. Another factor for the poor performance of State Congress is the unconstitutional extension of the term of GHADC three times over. It was incomprehensible that a constitutional institution was turned into a
fiefdom.
The NPP’s PA Sangma has promised a clean administration in the much tainted GHADC. He has assured of probing corruption charges against men who ran the previous Council. But the new EC will face an uphill task. Persons like me see only an iceberg in how politics works in our State and can confidently say that clean politics is still a distant dream. Restoring the dignity and image of the House which was badly
tarnished by the last men in charge will be a huge task.Another promise of the Garo strongman is the introduction and enactment of the “Codification of Garo Customary Law”. As to how this will be done, the public will keep an interested eye. Will the controversial “Codification of Garo Customary Law, Bill, 2009” be scrapped or amended? How will the contentious issue of “A person who is born of a non-Garo mother and a Garo father is recognized as member of the Garo tribe provided he follows the Garo customs and traditions,” be tackled? On the controversy of inclusion of non-tribals in the GHADC elections
both as candidates and voters, the veteran leader was non-committal merely stating that the issue needs discussion and debate. This is understandable as his party fielded non-tribals and favoured their
names to remain in the electoral roll. Bringing about a legislation debarring non-tribal from participating in the GHADC election will be a political risk as non-tribals could shift allegiance to the
Congress. Forming the Garo Hills United Alliance (GHUA), the elected independent MDCs have already refused to be part of the NPP led EC as there are non-tribals in it. Whether next Executive Committee prefers ‘statesmanship’ to vote bank politics or vice versa will be keenly watched. The new EC will walk on a tight rope. The most intriguing challenge is stability. GHPA has a fragile
majority of 16 in the 30 member house. Anyone shift camps and we are in a crisis. In the absence of anti-defection laws in the GHADC (and other ADCs) instability is a surety. Conscience, principles, ethics,
values and ideology do not exist in these institutions. The constant change of ECs in KHADC and JHADC prove it. In the last GHADC election, the NPP won an overwhelming majority of 19 seats out of 29 but most of them shamelessly joined the Congress camp post victory. Even before the GHPA assumes office there are already rumours that the independents have left the alliance. Not to down play other challenges, keeping their flock together and happy will be the biggest test for the GHPA. Toppling games will be played and horse trading fairs will be organized.