The coalition dharma was born in Meghalaya where astute politicians formed governments under different acronyms. There was an unwritten code where coalition partners showed due deference to one another. Meghalaya never had pre-poll alliances. Such alliances were made after elections. Before the elections each party went to the polls with its own set of promises; its own manifesto and ideology. The regional parties would lambast the national parties for missing the nuance of governance that regional parties claim they had. National parties would scorn at the regional parties for their divisive nature and their lack of cohesion. Regional parties in Meghalaya have never been able to fight elections under a single banner. That in itself is an indicator of what regional political brinkmanship is. Despite several attempts at unity the regional parties always fell apart like ninepins. National parties on the other hand had more discipline as they were guided by a high command in Delhi. This is why national parties have always had a field day in Meghalaya because although they would fall short of the magic number for forming a government, in the ‘first past the post’ system, national parties always came in as the single largest party and would then look to form coalitions with regional parties and independents. Meghalaya also has the record of having an Independent MLA as the chief minister.
Meghalaya is therefore no stranger to coalitions. So what makes the NPP-led MDA coalition so tenuous? Why is the BJP a coalition partner with just two MLAs always taking a broad swipe at the Government? It has come to a point where the NPP State President and Rajya Sabha member even said that the BJP would not be invited to the MDA meetings henceforth. It is true that coalition partners don’t discuss issues pertaining to the government in the public sphere. For months now the BJP President and its Spokes-person have been launching a broadside against the Government and embarrassing it. The main grouse of the BJP is about the large scale corruption in the Garo Hills District Council. Now the State BJP is even suggesting that it would seek the intervention of the Home Ministry on this issue as it involves serious diversion of funds to different projects which are not visible or tangible even while the staff of the Council has been denied their salaries for over two years. The BJP is eyeing the Garo Hills District Council elections which are now overdue and their raking up the issue of corruption in the Council is sure to win them brownie points. However, this repeated attack by the BJP has dented the cordial relationship between the coalition partners in the Government. How long this will continue is unsure but it’s no longer smooth sailing for the MDA unless the BJP in- charge Meghalaya helps mend the rift.