Chief Executive Member, KHADC, Titosstarwell Chyne well has rightly exhorted the regional political parties that trumpeting the unity clarion call merely because elections are just 14 months away is another attempt at flattering to deceive. In other words, the unity call may appear promising now but will ultimately disappoint. Come to think of it, the regional parties have never had a sitting to reflect on the politics of the times and to honestly introspect as to what they have achieved in all these years and what are the gaping loopholes still left unattended. Regional parties have an important role to play. They give a rounded perspective of the region to the national government so that policies are nuanced towards the needs of the state and region.
At the national level, Meghalaya was represented in Lok Sabha by stalwarts like GG Swell as Independent candidates, and KR Marak of the APHLC in the 5th Lok Sabha. In the 6th Lok Sabha, HS Lyngdoh was an Independent MP while PA Sangma won from the NPP. In the 7th Lok Sabha Bajubon Kharlukhi won from the APHLC and yet again PA Sangma from the NPP. In the 8th Lok Sabha GG Swell was again an Independent MP while PA Sangma continued as NPP but was replaced by Capt Sangma after he decided to come to state politics and join the Congress. In the 9th Lok Sabha, the Shillong and Tura Lok Sabha constituencies were both represented by the Congress with PG Marbaniang and Sanford Marak respectively. Since then Meghalaya has elected national party MPs till date. GG Swell made a mark although he was an Independent candidate and was appointed Deputy Speaker. But he belonged to a different league of politicians.
Regional parties help the country balance between the national and the regional agenda. They have their own strengths and must stand to defend the rights of indigenous people against the onslaught of national parties that seek to subsume all the regional forces under them. However, this does not mean that regional parties should ignore the larger national agenda. They can and must take care of both and maintain a delicate balance. The role of regional parties is to demonstrate their specific needs to the central government and not to dance to the tune of national parties while voting in parliament. In Meghalaya, regional parties have always played a secondary role and that is mainly because of the disunity and splits especially before elections. Every attempt to unite has resulted in more parties springing up. If the regional parties are serious they can form the government without the help of national parties. But unity of purpose and political egoism has always been the stumbling blocks.
