Political chess game ahead of 2018 polls

SHILLONG: Unlike the past, a political chess game is being played out by parties in the run up to the polls in the wake of likely exodus of sitting legislators to different political outfits of the state.
The parties are adopting a wait and watch policy in regard to the exodus of legislators before they finally rope them into their respective folds.
With political parties like NPP, BJP and NCP hoping to gain sitting legislators, they are delaying the announcement of candidatures unless a clear picture emerges.
There are ticket aspirants in several constituencies but the political parties are waiting for a response from rebel MLAs before choosing their candidates, sources said.
The most affected among the parties will be the Congress as many legislators are set to leave the party and there is no feedback from any quarters about sitting legislators joining the Congress or regional parties like UDP and HSPDP.
The legislators are eyeing NPP and BJP though the associate member of NCP, Saleng Sangma, recently claimed that a few legislators may join the party.
Recently, NPP president WR Kharlukhi and BJP leader Shibun Lyngdoh had hinted that at least seven legislators will join the respective parties before the polls.
Two independent legislators, Robinus Syngkon and Justice Dkhar have already expressed their desire to join BJP.
A political observer said some political parties are not being able to decide on the candidates early as the real commitment from several legislators is yet to come due to varied factors.
The delay on the part of the legislators to take firm decisions is due to factors including pending salary, MLA schemes worth crores of rupees and the pulls and pressures from different political parties.
Sensing trouble, MPCC had made a clever move in announcing the date for collecting application forms from August 31 to September 15 from potential candidates.
MPCC president DD Lapang recently said the party would come to know about the legislators who do not apply for party tickets much early from the application forms which will enable them to make the next move.
MPCC has already dissolved the block Congress committees of Mawkyrwat, Nartiang, Umsning and Pynursla represented by legislators Rowell Lyngdoh, Sniawbhalang Dhar, Ngaitlang Dhar and Prestone Tynsong.
The party is also preparing some candidates to contest the 2018 polls considering that these legislators will not contest from the Congress.