By Albert Thyrniang
Another political development has taken place. The suspense has ended. Martin M Danggo resigned from the Legislative Assembly and primary membership of the Congress Party, late night of June 2. Quite out of character, the resignation letter was handed over to the Deputy Speaker, Timothy D Shira by a minister of the NPP at his official residence in the absence of the Speaker, Donkupar Roy who was away in Kolkata. Adding more spice to the drama and showing an urgency as if it was a matter of life and death, an Assembly official was rushed to the ‘City of Joy’ with the resignation letter to which the Speaker, obligingly, hurriedly and unhesitatingly accepted. More drama in the coming days will follow. The bad blood, battle and war of words and the poaching game between the NPP and the Congress will only intensify.
Danggo, a former Speaker and multiple-time Ranikor legislator took the decision to quit following the assurance by the NPP led MDA government that Ranikor would be granted a new Civil Sub-Division; the date for its inauguration is already scheduled for July 10. As a result of his resignation the picturesque Ranikor will have go in for by-election as and when the Election Commission fixes the date. The long serving Congressman will contest on NPP ticket.
No doubt Ranikor with 158 villages, situated in the economically backward district of South West Khasi Hills district, deserves to be upgraded into a Civil Sub-Division. The former MLA made a genuine demand. He got what he wanted. But why has he to resign? He resigned because the NPP top leadership granted his desire. In other words, because he promised to join the NPP he was given what he wished. Is that not ridiculous? It is even childish. If Danggo was unwilling to join the NPP would Ranikor C&RD Block be converted into a civil sub-division? Had he not decided to change his political colour would Ranikor be preparing its Red Letter Day? Is Ranikor reduced to party politics? Administration and governance must be beyond party politics. Otherwise we are in for serious trouble.
It must be made clear that the MDA government has not granted a favour to Danggo or to the people of Ranikor by setting up the new Civil Sub-Division. It is the duty of the government to do so. What the former legislator thinks is that the present government is doing him and the people of his constituency an act of kindness. Therefore, change your loyalty.
Now the Mawlai and Mawsynram MLAs, PT Sawkmie and HM Shangpliang respectively have placed their demand to upgrade their towns (constituencies) into full-fledged Civil Sub-Divisions. Will the two Congress representatives pledge to join the NPP if their demands are met? Or will the NPP top brass insist that they resign from the Congress and join the NPP to consider their demands? If the two INC legislators refuse to resign and contest as NPP candidates will Mawlai and Mawsynram be denied their ‘rightful’ dues? If Sawkmie and Shangpliang turn down the suggestion of joining the NPP will their demands be treated as not genuine? How will the government deal with the flurry of similar demands? Will they be looked at from the party perspective? Will developmental works and policy implementation be done on the basis of party affiliation? Danggo and the NPP have set a bad precedence.
Repercussions aside, by-election has to be forced on the people of Ranikor in less than six months for no fault of theirs. Election means huge expenditure. The state has to incur this absolutely unnecessary spending. The amount could have been spent for the establishment of the youngest Civil Sub-Division. Therefore, an amendment to the anti-defection law is required. A sitting law maker must bear the expenses of the whole election process if he or she resigns to contest from another party. Or if the legislator resigns, he or she should be barred from contesting in the following election. Otherwise, in the name of people’s welfare opportunists will continue to take advantage of this loophole in the law for their own selfish interests. Anyway, there is good news too as huge sums of white and black cash from the two rival parties will be flown in to the constituency of Ranikor. Party workers and the voters can look forward to benefit from the free flowing largesse.
The State has had to hold two avoidable by-elections already – Williamnagar because the government did not go hard enough on the GNLA and Ampati because the former Chief Minister contested from two constituencies in the last Assembly elections. Besides affecting the state exchequer, the elections took away the focus of the government. Williamnagar and Ampati were made to be prestigious elections. There were high voltage campaigns, especially in Ampati. The Chief Minister and almost the entire cabinet either camped in loco or travelled to and fro either from Shillong or Tura to campaign for their candidate/s for at least two weeks. Precious time, energy and resources were wasted in more ways than one. The impending Ranikor by-election will be even more prestigious. The Government of the day will do all it can to win the seat. The priority will be on the by-election while governance, administration, framing of policies and developmental works will take a back seat.
Ranikor will not be the last by-election. With Agatha expecting to resign soon to give way for her elder brother, Conrad Sangma, the South Tura seat will see another election unless the Election Commission decides to hold the two by-elections simultaneously. Then there is the Tura Parliamentary by-election unless the EC puts it off till 2019 when the nation goes to the Lok Sabha polls. Regardless of the Tura Parliamentary by-election, 2018 is truly an election year for Meghalaya. We began with the February General Election. We are now in June but we are still in election mode. Election fever could continue if we are to believe that more Congress MLAs are to follow Danggo’s path.
Right from its initiation the MDA government had pledged to prepare a draft on education policy in three months. Five months have almost elapsed but we are yet to see the policy that will focus on quality education at all levels and revamp the deteriorating education scenario in the state. Similar policies on economic development, youth development, women empowerment and mining were also on the priority list. But they are still to see the light of day.
As the recent Shillong violence (now extended to relocation of Sweeper Colony) proves, thorny issues in the state can take away the entire attention of the government to just maintaining law and order. There are other similar issues like ILP, uranium mining, border dispute with Assam, railway construction which can explode any time. Therefore, government cannot afford to be distracted by elections, especially if they happen by design.
The Congress has accused the BJP and the NPP of poaching its MLAs. It may be true but the blame is also on the oldest party in the country. Irritatingly, on and off, it is predicting the fall of the Conrad-led MDA government. It is inviting the public to perceive it as a party that is incapable of being in the opposition. The party was in power for more than ten years. It is advised that it should give a chance to others to rule the State. For the sake of the State and its people the government should focus on governance and development. The Opposition too should perform its democratic duties. Changing of parties in between elections may strengthen the recipient parties but will weaken the State. No doubt a mature government and a strong Opposition are essential in a democracy. Let there be no more Danggos!