Meghalaya made breaking news on Wednesday when an NDTV reporter claimed she had notes of a report given by Dr Mukul Sangma to the Congress High Command on the recent goings-on in the State Congress. In a sharp, vitriolic reaction, Dr Sangma asked the NDTV channel how they got copies of an email sent from his private email account. The reporter of course ducked the question stating that the channel has its sources of collecting information. This is an incident that needs more probing and investigation agencies must be on the job to find out who leaked this vital information to the media and whether Dr Sangma’s email account has been hacked and if so by whom.
Dr Mukul Sangma has been facing rebellion inside the Congress Party essentially because he has not effected a cabinet change even after three years. Those waiting on the fringes feel cheated when they see the Government not performing well on certain fronts and some key departments being held by those with overt business interests. Not that any MLA does not have a business interest while contesting the election. We would be naïve to imagine that, because, without a side business no MLA would be able to meet the daily demands from his/her constituents. Ministers who have held key portfolios until now are seen as having an edge over those who are mere MLAs. Dr Sangma ostensibly is waiting for a green signal from the High Command to affect a cabinet reshuffle. Those who fear losing their turfs are now ready to switch sides after being promised key portfolios. This has been the bane of Meghalaya’s politics. The fact that the elderly and near senile Lapang is projected as the alternative leader also means that the dissidents believe they can take him for a ride.
Definitely this rumbling is bad for governance as the bureaucracy is waiting and watching. It would be again naïve to believe that the bureaucracy is completely insulated from the political rumblings. Important decisions will be kept on hold for fear of getting into trouble with the next government. Dr Sangma has of course shown uncharacteristic bravado by stating that he is in control of the situation, but, in politics there is many a slip between the cup and the lip. Should a new government take over the momentum of governance will be lost as it would take a while for the new ministers to familiarise themselves with their respective departments. The losers will be the people of Meghalaya who have nothing to do with the rumblings within the Congress which are fuelled by personal ambitions.