All political parties in Meghalaya are on election mode. Sitting MLAs are all interested in reclaiming their seats. Intending candidates are waiting and watching to see which political party gains credence among voters. They are adopting a wait and watch attitude. Meanwhile the BJP has launched a bliztkrieg with Assam Minister and BJP strongman, Himanta Biswa Sarma who is also the leader of the BJP sponsored, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) taking the lead in listing out the Congress Party’s poor governance in Meghalaya. The BJP which has just won the Uttar Pradesh election is buoyant and confident of winning both Meghalaya and Nagaland. The problem with small states is that they are heavily dependent on the Centre for their development funds. The NDA Government at the Centre also recognizes this. Its ministers are touring the region and promising development packages of various hues. The idea is to lure the electorate, especially the aspirational youth entrepreneurs of the region who want a share of the development pie by taking advantage of schemes such as Start Up India, Make in India etc.
The Congress-led, Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) now into its second term is showing signs of being afflicted by anti-incumbency. In the past seven years the MUA Government has been run like a private limited company with a Chairman cum Chief Executive Officer (CEO) driving the affairs of the company single-handedly and not even answerable to the Governing Body (the legislature). Ministers claim that cabinet memos are served to them just before the cabinet meetings hence they don’t have enough time to study the issues under discussion. Cabinet meetings are simply meant to endorse what the CEO has decided. This was stated in so many words by senior Congress leader from Mawkyrwat, Rowell Lyngdoh. In such a situation there is bound to be resentment towards the present Chief Minister, although other Congress MLAs have refrained from speaking up. The stout defence of the present government by frontal wings of the Congress Party at this juncture is unlikely to cut much ice!