The Congress MLAs that have decided to support the MDA Government have been or will be amply rewarded. Two of them have been given political appointments with perks obviously. It’s better than being in the dog-house. In the meanwhile, all manner of illegalities will continue quietly as the Opposition collapses. Right now only the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MLAs are raking up issues on a daily basis. But the MDA Government is unconcerned, comfortable in the thought that the NPP – the political party leading the Government – is growing from strength to strength. What is pathetic is to watch the regional parties being reduced to non-entities. The folding up of the United Democratic Party in Ri Bhoi district is just the beginning of the end. What is ironic is that the regional party’s loss is the NPP’s gain. Perhaps those in the regional parties feel it is better to be with the Party that drives the Government than side players as coalition partners. The regional parties have all failed to rise to the occasion. They have had to support the Government despite knowing fully well the corruption that is going on in broad daylight.
The regional parties have played their deceitful games once too often. Prior to the elections they trumpet regional party unity. But they also know that unity is fraught because political egos win over public service. The need to lead overtakes the need for a unified front to take on the so-called national parties. The regional parties have repeatedly failed to take a stand on any issue. In short they have abandoned the cause of the people and what’s in the larger public interest. The regional parties have all remained silent over the blatant disregard of the present government for the rule of law – the most visible one being the transportation of illegally mined coal. Reams have been written on this venality but to no avail.
Coal trucks continue to move out of Meghalaya even while the Directorate of Mineral Resources is being used as the platform for re-routing coal from Jaintia Hills to Dawki by showing on paper that the coal comes from Assam, Nagaland or Bhutan. The modus-operandi seamless with one Government Department completely compromised to evade the prying eyes of the Opposition AITC which has been the only one blowing the whistle so far. That the Home Minister is a UDP man also means that this regional party is hands in glove with the NPP and is simply doing its bidding. Come election time they will try to whitewash their acts of omission and commission. Will the voters still allow themselves to be fooled yet again?
