From C K Nayak
NEW DELHI: This year’s parliamentary polls in Meghalaya may be the dullest but it is also the most unpredictable since the contest is almost direct in both seats.
Shillong used to witness multiple contests which only helped the Congress win Shillong seat as many as nine times in 11 elections.
But this time, the combined challenge by the MDA without the BJP gave the two-time MP Vincent H Pala many a sleepless night, but ultimately he may scrape through.
For former chief minister Mukul Sangma, the fight is marked by uncertainties. For the first time, the Congress is contesting when it is neither in power in the state nor at the Centre.
The NPP’s Agatha Sangma faces no less worry since the legendary Purno A Sangma is no more to back her. Also, one cannot depend on the sympathy factor for long.
The regional parties do not matter much in Tura compared to Shillong since none of them have a single MLA from Garo Hills. But they do pose a challenge in Khasi-Jaintia Hills where they have many legislators.
On the other hand, NPP, which has both the posts of Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, is not a visible player in Khasi-Jaintia Hills. It is rumoured that many NPP ministers and MLAs are helping Pala discreetly.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Agatha’s brother, would have given a much better fight in Tura in terms of his position in the government and the political equation, observers feel.
This is a seat where no predication can be made except saying the former chief minister has an edge.
Going by the previous trend, in Shillong seat there used to be contestants from every regional party opposing the Congress but ultimately helping in dividing the anti-Congress vote. This time, a combined MDA candidate, though not common, is giving Pala some pain.
In contrast, the BJP, which is part of MDA, is contesting against the combined candidates as well as the Congress. This is only helping the grand old party, which also happens to be its main rival. This shows that the ruling MDA is not united in general elections.
The BJP factor is not a subject of discussions since the party has not shown much seriousness in both the seats. It has also admitted that it is putting candidates to keep its vote bank intact.
Surprisingly, the Congress does not see much of infighting this time neither in Shillong nor in Tura. For the first time, the party leaders and former ministers are together campaigning in both constituencies, more in Tura, despite their sharp differences. All these years, dissension brewed in the Congress right from the day of ticket selection.
John Kharshiing resigned from his post of party vice-president and supported Jemino Mawthoh at the last moment. But not many left with him or even supported him since Pala was a sitting MP.
There was no opposition to Mukul’s candidature and he had maintained that he was following the party high command’s decision.
Polls in Meghalaya are over and the top campaigners and contestants have left to help their respective parties in neighbouring Assam and other states. One has to keep his fingers crossed till May 23.
