From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: The Congress, which has seen cracks in its fortress in Meghalaya, is heading for a vertical split with ministers, MLAs and party functionaries not only quitting the “sinking ship” but also joining the opposition bandwagon, be it BJP or old rival NPP.
A series of meetings of rebel legislators and office bearers was held in the recent past in Kolkata and Guwahati to chalk out the future course of action and modalities.
The meetings held by two opposition groups – one led by the aspiring BJP and the other by NPP – was attended by senior Cabinet ministers, MLAs and party functionaries.
The revived opposition might even field one of the prominent Cabinet ministers as their chief ministerial candidate, sources said.
The legislators are planning to quit within six months of the Assembly term ending to avoid bypolls.
A section of the Congress leaders is also not sure of their seats since they may be deprived of their tickets or they are apprehensive about an imminent defeat in the 2018 polls.
Considering the festival seasons and the year end celebrations ahead, secret groups meetings are taking place among the politicians to firm up a decision for the coming polls while the ruling party has gone on unveiling of schemes spree pre-polls.
The focus on AICC is likely to be less because the party, after losing power at the Centre, is on a downhill slide in most other elections all over the country barring Punjab.
The party’s waning power in the North East, which was once its stronghold, beginning with Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and most recently in Manipur has also shaken the state leaders’ faith in AICC.
Leadership issue
Moreover, demand for a change in leadership has fallen in deaf ears with the AICC not taking up any major revamp in the past five years. Barring dropping of two ministers and inducting two, no significant change has been made in the Meghalaya Government or the party during the ongoing tenure.
Besides, the Congress has lost power in the KHADC with the CEM ousted from the party. His crusade against abolition of dual posts by the Mukul Sangma-led Government was vindicated by the Apex Court.
The regional parties are also in disarray but like in the past are consolidating against the Congress since they did not get a pie in the last five years since the coalition was supported mostly by the independents.