SHILLONG: PN Syiem, the chief of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), on Tuesday said in as many words that the Congress would not be able to get allies to form the next government in Meghalaya even if it managed to win 20 seats in the February 27 election.
Speaking to media persons after flagging off a bike rally on Tuesday to mark the commencement of the party’s campaign on road, Syiem sounded confident about a non-Congress government this time.
“Even if the Congress gets 20 seats, it will not be able to form the government here like Manipur and Goa,” he said, adding that the Congress has lost its popularity in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
In Manipur, the Congress had won 28 seats and the BJP 21.
The saffron party got support from the National People’s Party and the Naga People’s Front, each with four MLAs, and the Lok Janshakti party with one MLA, taking the count to 30, one less than the magic number in the 60-member Assembly.
In the Goa Assembly election last February, though the Congress had won 17 seats as against the BJP’s 13, the latter formed the government owing to the Grand Old Party’s crucial strategic loopholes.
If the Congress wins 20 of the 60 Assembly seats in Meghalaya, it will require support from at least 10 MLAs to form the government.
Syiem, who was suspended from the Congress for three years in 2016 for his anti-party activities, was of the view that the incumbent party would hardly win 15 seats.
On supporting the BJP, the KHADC chief executive member denied allegations that PDF is working hand in glove with the saffron party.
“If I have not succumbed to the dictatorial attitude of Mukul Sangma, how can I succumb to the BJP? PDF has its own agenda and ideology,” he said and accused the United Democratic Party of “indirectly supporting the BJP as it is part of the North East Democratic Alliance”.
Hinting at the strength of the People’s Democratic Forum in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, Syiem said it was the first step in forming a new party after his differences with the Congress leadership.
“After I had conflict with the chief minister, I realised I could not stay with them and I planned to form my own political party, which began with the formation of the People’s Democratic Forum… People of the state are familiar with PDF,” he added.
When asked about his political rivalry in Mawsynram, Syiem said he comes from a political background whereas Congress candidate HM Shangpliang was a bureaucrat.
“I am more professional and he (Shangpliang) needs more years and mark my word, he is not a threat to me,” he added.
Rural popularity
Syiem said PDF is next to NPP in popularity in rural areas despite being a new entity in Meghalaya’s political arena. “NPP became popular only after heavyweights joined them,” he observed.
The leader said it was the People’s Democratic Forum (in KHADC) that was aggressive in taking up the Village Administration Bill and the issue of headmen with the government when other parties stayed away.
The PDF bike rally campaign will travel across four districts in Khasi Hills.