Meghalaya will be going to the polls in February-March 2023. All political parties are gearing up for this once-in-five-year contest which can make or break businesses and overturn political fortunes. Naturally, the Congress as the principle opposition Party is gearing up for the 2023n polls to take on the NPP-led MDA Government which has been in the eye of the storm for a series of alleged corrupt deals especially in the State Power Corporation. But it appears from the turn of events that the Congress is likely to split with former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma looking at other alternatives. Dr Sangma has reasons to be miffed at the manner in which the Pradesh Congress President was named without him being consulted despite being a senior leader. But that has been the modus-operandi of Rahul Gandhi, the ad-hoc President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). Rahul had stepped aside as Congress President in 2019 after the party suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the BJP. Sonia Gandhi has been wearing that mantle but of late the Nehru-Gandhi siblings seem to be taking all decisions; including that of changing Chief Ministers half-way as had happened in Punjab.
Naturally Congress MLAs and party workers are watching the events unfolding in Punjab with some consternation. Rahul Gandhi has no locus standi to decide things for the AICC since he is not officially the President. Priyanka Gandhi who is lending her weight to her brother can hardly help build the fortunes of the Party, since she is in charge of Uttar Pradesh and has no role to play in Punjab or elsewhere. But the Nehru-Gandhi siblings are now taking arbitrary decisions. The only alternative to the BJP right now seems to be the TMC and it is no surprise why senior politicians from the Congress here are veering towards it. As of now the Congress is in no position to give the BJP a run for its money. It was Mamata Banerjee who stood like a rock against the intimidatory tactics of the BJP in the Bengal elections. Also, it has been amply demonstrated that the Congress will not be able to move out of the dynastic mould. The TMC provides that alternative to non-BJP parties to fight a united battle in 2024 but as of now the TMC-Congress alliance is on a slippery slope. For now, it’s a game of wait and watch. But for aspirants in Meghalaya there’s not much time left to decide which party to throw their weight behind in 2023.
