SHILLONG: Meghalaya that is known for its unique style of politics once again witnessed a very uncertain political year with many desertions of political leaders from one party to another. And by-polls were the most common political event in the state.
The year 2018 began on a high note as the state was preparing for the Assembly elections and all the political parties left no stone unturned to ensure that their respective parties secured the most seats.
The preparations as well as the campaigning for the elections were going on in full swing throughout the entire state when an ugly episode rocked the state as the candidate of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Jonathone Sangma, was killed in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on February 18. The death of the NCP candidate led to by-polls in Williamnagar.
On the other hand, the State Assembly elections were held as planned and the electorate of Meghalaya voted for a hung assembly and Congress emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats while its main rival National People’s Party (NPP) secured 19 seats and UDP got 6 six seats. The PDF won four seats while the BJP won two.
The non-Congress parties, however, were quick to form together the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance with Conrad Sangma as the Chief Minister.
Williamngar Constituency then saw a by-election and NPP’s Marcus Marak won the election with a comfortable margin.
Later, the veteran and senior Congress leader, MM Danggo, gave the people of the state a shock of their lives when he deserted the party and joined NPP which prompted a by-election in Ranikor Constituency.
However, Danggo lost the election and UDP’s Pius Marwein became the new MLA of Ranikor.
Along with Ranikor, the by-election for Tura was also held as the incumbent Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, was not elected till that time and he had to win the election in order to cement his place as the Chief Minister of the state.
other MLAs after the first cabinet meeting of the new government.
Conrad Sangma then contested the Tura by-polls and won with ease leaving the Congress way behind.
As the former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma, contested from two two seats — Songsak and Ampati — he ultimately resigned from Ampati constituency and then fielded his daughter Miani D Shira in his place. Like her father, Miani crossed over the bridge in her very first attempt and won the election with a thumping majority.
However, this was not the end as the biggest jolt in Meghalaya politics came later when veteran leader from Congress and five-time Chief Minister, DD Lapang, resigned from the party which he served for more than four decades after being allegedly sidelined by the party high command.
He maintained that the party leadership in New Delhi was phasing out old leaders and hence he left the party.
Shortly after deserting the Congress, different political parties in Meghalaya approached the veteran leader urging him to join them.
Lapang was then appointed as the Chief Advisor of the Meghalaya Government, which said it would like to utilise his rich experience for the benefit of the state.
As speculations swirled as to which party Lapang will join, the senior leader of the state recently joined the NPP in a glittering function in Ri Bhoi district.
PN Syiem, the founding member of the People’s Democratic Front, resigned from the party alleging that he was sidelined by party functionaries. Syiem is set to join NPP on January 5, 2019.