The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) is not exactly in good health. There appears to be serious differences of opinion between the collation partners. The BJP with two MLAs is unable to agree on whether coal mining should carry on under an illegal regime. While BJP MLA AL Hek feels that the coal scam has tarnished the Government, his colleague Sanbor Shullai feels it is important to support the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, come what may, and not create unnecessary controversy which may destabilise the Government.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) which is the main coalition partner of the Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) led MDA Government with 8 MLAs is concerned about its image which is gradually being dented by the illegal coal mining and transportation scam. The Peoples’ Democratic Front (PDF) with 4 MLAs has also started feeling the heat as they will have to face the elections in 2023 with the taint of corruption which is now being highlighted by the Lokayukta. The MDA Government’s unwillingness to allow officers and police officials involved in the coal scam to be investigated by the CBI has got under the skin of the Lokayukta who is now contemplating filing contempt proceedings against the Government. The Lokayukta has been set up as an anti-graft body and it is expected that any government that is serious about checking corruption would not be a stumbling block. In the case of Meghalaya however the Government is the Lokayukta’s worst enemy.
The NPP with 19 MLAs includes in the main former Congressmen who could not get their way during the Mukul Sangma Government and jumped fences mainly to serve their vested interests. They are coal mine owners and they fund elections. Now they have the Government where they want it. So much so, the Chief Minister has to take a contrarian stand from that of the Lokayukta and defend the indefensible. The fact that a personal assistant of the Home Minister has been named by the Lokayukta as an accessory in the coal mining and transportation scam has further muddied the waters and created the impression that the Home Department is facilitating the entire illegal mining business.
The NPP, now a national party, may or may not return in the next election but small regional players have played the role of kingmakers by supporting the national parties in Meghalaya. The more seats they get the better their bargaining power. If the UDP, PDF and other regional parties continue to support the MDA despite the coal scam they will face the wrath of the electorate. Hence the attempt to put pressure on the Chief Minister to drop his brother the Home Minister as a face saving device.