Coalition politics is at best a marriage of convenience and at worst a nightmare. Satisfying the demands of coalition partners can often be a nightmare. The events playing out before the by-election to the Ranikor and South Tura assembly constituencies are bizarre. In Ranikor all three parties –the NPP, UDP, PDF who are part of the ruling coalition are fielding their own candidates. In Meghalaya the phrase “friendly fight” is common parlance. In the past too when regional parties have had pre-poll alliances they surprised all by setting up candidates in the same constituencies. Naturally the national political parties were able to win over the divided regional parties. In fact this is one reason why regional parties have not been able to successfully form a government in Meghalaya. Right from the inception of the State of Meghalaya, regional parties have had to depend on the Congress Party for support. That the regional parties refuse to learn any lessons from these fatal behavioural flaws is a sad commentary on their lack of political maturity and the political ego that disrupts regional party unity.
It was a bit of a surprise to learn that the UDP would even be putting up a candidate against Chief Minister Conrad Sangma from South Tura constituency. It is in fact a contradiction in terms since the wise elder of the UDP, namely its President and the present Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Dr Donkupar Roy recently said that Conrad Sangma will win the South Tura seat. If so, why does the UDP not consolidate its votes in favour of Conrad Sangma and its coalition partner the NPP? Even if the UDP were to win the Ranikor seat or the South Tura seat they would still not be able to form a government without the NPP. The UDP with 7 MLAs now (if two more are added it would be only 9) would still not be able to call the shots and take the leadership position unless the Party is mooting the possibility of tying up with its old ally the Congress. And politics being the art of the possible nothing can be ruled out. We can only wait and watch.