From businessman to politician, Saleng A. Sangma’s entry into poliFrom businessman to politician, Saleng A. Sangma’s entry into poli tics was not out of choice but compulsion after he felt that it was about time his native place earned the elusive fruits of development and that he believed he could make a difference as a politician. A former Cabinet minister, and currently the Independent MLA from Gambegre constituency, Sangma strongly believes that the Nationalist Congress Party has an ideology, and unlike some of the other national parties, does not indulge in vote-bank politics. So while the NCP, by the former Congressman’s admission, may not have made much of an impact in the political milieu, it is just a matter of time when he joins the party.A “realist” who admitted having differences of opinion with the Congress leaders prior to the 2013 polls when he was denied a ticket, Sangma says it is the people who matter to him the most, and he, “will not be dictated by any party or leader.” While Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had cited the “winnability” factor as the basis for ticket distribution prior to the 2013 polls, the resilient young leader came back strongly to win as an Independent and prove his detractors wrong.Sangma says that despite the NCP currently having two MLAS, it has to start from scratch- almost “from a zero-MLA level”. Saurav Bora caught up with the young legislator at his Mawpun (Golf Links) residence for an exclusive interview on Wednesday afternoon.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
ST: You had contested the 2008 elections as a Congress candidate and won. However in 2013, you failed to get a ticket despite being Cabinet minister. What was the reason for the rejection?
Sangma: Frankly speaking, I was shocked not to have got a ticket then. But as a realist I look at the picture, whether it is good or bad…that way I take my own decisions. My objective is for the people…if I feel something is wrong, I stick to it…So there were some differences…In fact, the leaders had their differences with me… I am not someone who likes to be dictated and dominated by a party or a person…this is a free country, a democracy…. May be this was the reason why Congress did not give me a ticket in 2013 despite my credentials as a Cabinet minister.
ST: You were considered to be a close aide of current chief minister Mukul Sangma. Why are you not on the same page now?
Sangma: Personally, I have no grudges against the chief minister…..But maybe he thought I was a threat…
ST: You won in 2013 as an Independent. How?
Sangma: Actually, I did not choose to be an Independent because as an Independent you cannot make concrete decisions or create the requisite impact…I wanted to form a party — North East Socialist Democratic Party, and even managed to get it registered with the Election Commission. But it was too late as I could not ask the other Independent MLAs to join and form a team…But Independents are used as a tool…whenever the government needs them it takes them and vice versa….Now, what have the Independent MLAs in the government done, tell me?….I won as an Independent because people had faith in my work. But there are limitations for which you need to be in a party.
ST: When do you plan to join the NCP?
Sangma: There are certain rules one has to adhere to before joining another party…even though I am an Independent …when the time comes I will join NCP…As of now, our party people in Delhi have sought my help… and so I am helping the party.
ST: Why have you chosen the NCP?
Sangma: See, if you compare Rahul Gandhi’s constituency and Sharad Pawar’s constituency, there is a difference. I have seen people live in sheer poverty in Rahul’s constituency while Sharad Pawar has managed to alleviate poverty to an extent ….The NCP does not believe in creating a vote bank, like the Congress or even BJP, before the elections…..NCP does not make false promises, it is a friendly party having no conflict with other communities. The ideology of the party very good…. I believe that if you are good enough for five years, people recognise you as good…So why play the vote bank card?
ST: NCP is still supporting the Congress-led MUA government. So, why has the party chosen to go it alone in the 2018 Assembly elections?
Sangma: We are not supporting the Congress. NCP has two MLAs in the state…while I cannot speak on their behalf …our leaders have categorically said that the party does not want to be seen as the “B” team of the Congress.
ST: In the event of a fractured mandate, will NCP support Congress to form the government?
Sangma: Last time around, we were not aligned together…it depends on the people’s choice, whether they will give us the mandate…we will make a transformation if the mandate is in our favour.
ST: Will the anti-incumbency factor hinder your party’s prospects since you are part of the government?
Sangma: We do not support Congress and we will never support the Congress…
ST: Will NCP contest in all the 60 seats?
Sangma: It depends on how many candidates contest…
ST: Currently, you have two MLAs, Will the party be able to increase the tally?
Sangma: We cannot say now …Count us from zero MLAs…it depends on the people’s mandate, like I said. If people give us the mandate, we can make a difference.
ST: What will be NCP’s agenda in the elections?
Sangma: Well, while it is too early to promise…I would say that the party wants to transform the education sector so that none can cheat our people…Creation of jobs is very important…we cannot allow migrants to take the place of our people…we want our people to get jobs…that is the best way to fight influx. Health is one sector that needs attention as we do not have the facilities in our hospitals. Besides, creation of infrastructure and marketing tools for promotion of agro-horticulture based products is of utmost essence.
ST: How do you rate the Congress government’s performance?
Sangma: Well, what I will say is that whoever forms the government will have a tough time as the economy is down, the debts are going high, revenue generation is not up to mark…On top of that, you have a chief minister who is forming more districts and blocks without looking at the state’s economic condition…Tell me how many districts are well equipped with infrastructure and services? When you cannot provide them what’s needed, why create them?…You are only creating handicapped children…
And despite all shortcomings, the chief minister is into a foundation-laying spree… (Laughs)…It’s like a mania….what more can I say….
ST: In the event of non-Congress parties forming the government, will the NCP join them?
Sangma: The party will join any one…we are for the people…But all said and done, I want to make it very clear that personally, I will not tolerate dictatorship….I will not wait and watch for things to happen …I cannot compromise with my people’s aspirations.
ST: You were quoted by the media of saying that people should join a national party like NCP and not regional parties as they cannot sustain their hold in the long run. Do you stick to that stand?
Sangma: Well…I didn’t say anything like that….I was misquoted….I only meant that I have my doubts whether the regional coalition will be able to make an impact…They need to make an impact, as the incumbent government has not performed…. Bah Hoping was a good man, articulate and straight…but he was left alone…the HSPDP was used as a tool….Besides, our people have their differences …In some constituencies, they favour one regional party, in others they prefer another….