SHILLONG: When it comes to the Yuletide spirit, even elections cannot prevent politicians from soaking in it.
While most candidates in faraway constituencies are restricting the celebrations to Christmas Day, unlike the “non-election years”, legislators in and around the city are taking a longer break to cool off their heels before the grind that awaits them from January.
For Nongthymmai MLA and UDP leader, Jemino Mawthoh, the celebrations will begin from Saturday itself.
Greeting people of the state ahead of Christmas, Mawthoh, who is otherwise engrossed in hectic electioneering and meeting people from morning till evening, said, “Feasts are being arranged on Christmas Day by church organisations where we will get to meet a cross-section of people, interact and share the spirit of Christmas. As a matter of fact, the entire week till New Year’s Day, will give us a chance to keep the Yuletide spirit intact.”
The pause from election work and strategy will last about three-four days from Sunday for Congress minister and Mylliem MLA, Ronnie V. Lyngdoh. “I will be spending two days, December 24, which is a Sunday, and December 25, with family members. So, there will be no electioneering in these two days. In the subsequent two-three days, we will spend time with people to rejoice the birth of Christ.”
KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum too echoed similar sentiments. “Politicians too need a break. After campaigning tomorrow, I intend to be off from the humdrum of poll duty from Sunday for about three days. I wish that people celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way,” Nongrum, who has been conducting public meetings quite regularly in his North Shillong constituency, said.
But for veteran politicians like Donkupar Roy, Prestone Tynsong and Rowell Lyngdoh, the phase before and after Christmas will be hectic. The seasoned trio is hoping to make the most of the Christmas Day break though.
“I will be with family in Shillong on Christmas day. But various programmes are scheduled, particularly in my constituency (Shella), in the run-up and post celebration,” UDP president Donkupar Roy told The Shillong Times.
Former Congress minister, Tynsong, who is set to join NPP, said, “I will be busy campaigning and meeting people in Pynursla on the other days but Christmas.”
Rowell, who was in his constituency, Mawkyrwat, on Friday, spoke in the same vein. “I have had little respite from programmes in Mawkyrwat over the past few weeks. There will be little change in my routine, barring Christmas Day, when I will take a break,” the septuagenarian said.
The routine for Kharkutta MLA, Cherak Momin too is not different. “It will be business as usual in the next few days, except Christmas, since time is a constraint as elections are round the corner,” Momin said.
