SHILLONG: Former home minister RG Lyngdoh on Monday reiterated the need to have a viable alternative to the Congress in the 2018 polls.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Lyngdoh said there is a need on the part of non-Congress political parties to come together so that there is an alternate government after the next polls.
Curiously, UDP chose Lyngdoh to address the party’s Shillong City youth-wing meeting held on September 30.
When asked, Lyngdoh said there was nothing political about his address to the gathering of the UDP youth members.
“I was invited as a chief guest and I conveyed to the gathering that there should be a viable option other than the Congress. Unless there is a viable option of coalition, the votes will be fragmented,” he said.
UDP has already entered into an alliance with HSPDP and GNC to contest the Assembly polls.
According to Lyngdoh, in pre-poll alliances, parties should be ready to sacrifice seats and manifestos to make the collation viable.
He also said the coalition should aim at putting up candidates in all the 60 seats.
To a query on his stand on allegations of scam in the appointment of teachers when his sister Ampareen Lyngdoh was the education minister, the former minister said, “I am against corruption, nepotism, inequality, and lack of transparency in the whole state.”
Policies need of the hour
On the qualities of a legislator, the former Congress leader said, “We do not need a representative who buys medicines and gives to people. What we need is a health policy. No need of football kits from any legislator because what we require is a sports policy and similarly, the MLA does not need to pay school fees as the need of the hour is an education policy.”
According to Lyngdoh, the policies can only pave way for real goals and there is a need to think about a better future and revival of economy.
“Today an MLA’s first priority is self, second is the party, third is the constituency and the last priority is the state and its people. It has to be reversed. The first priority should be the state, second the constituency, third the party and self should be the last one,” Lyngdoh said.
Family and politics
To a question as to why he did not contest the 2008 Assembly polls from Laitumkhrah (East Shillong) which would have helped him to bring a change in the state politics as per his vision, Lyngdoh said, “I believe that family matters should stay within the house and politics should remain in the streets, not that politics should enter the house and family matters go to the street.”
In 2008, Ampareen chose to contest from Laitumkhrah and won the seat.
Reduce MLA scheme
Lyngdoh said there is a trend of MLA scheme worth Rs 2 crore per year being utilised for building the political career of elected representatives.
“How can MLA scheme be used for political development of legislators at a time when there is no money to give to teachers and repair PHCs among other pressing needs,” he added.
According to Lyngdoh, the MLA scheme should be reduced to Rs 30 lakh per year which would come to Rs 2.5 lakh per month and this should help a legislator meet the emergency needs.
“The MLAs can submit separate proposals for construction of roads, water connections and other initiatives and the expenditure involved should be made known to the people,” he said.
