SHILLONG, Feb 11: Will the 2023 Assembly polls in Meghalaya expose the ethnic fissures in the state and test the fragile bond between the Khasis and the Garos?
While most political parties in the state have evaded any discussion or comment on the idea of a Khasi Chief Minister for the state in 2023, the UDP seems to have made up its mind on the issue and is almost going to the extent of professing the need for a Khasi lawmaker to lead the state post hustings.
UDP’s Mawlai candidate Process T Sawkmie on Saturday gave a clarion call for a Khasi Chief Minister to lead the next government.
“We need our people (Khasis) to lead the new government. We are tired since we have seen Dr Mukul Sangma as Chief Minister for eight years since 2010. We again had another Sangma (Conrad K Sangma) as the CM for the next five years. Where are the Khasi political leaders whether a Lyngdoh, a Syiem, a Kharkongor and so on? Why don’t we have any Khasi leader who is fit to be the CM,” Sawkmie said, while speaking at a common platform organised by the Mawlai Iewrynghep Dorbar on the premises of Mawlai Presbyterian Higher Secondary School, Iewrynghep on Saturday.
Asserting that a Garo CM takes away development projects to Garo Hills, Sawkmie pointed out that sportspersons of the state had expected an international standard stadium to come up in Shillong but it was taken to Tura.
“Even the first State University will be set up in Tura. This only proves that we are losing much by having a CM from Garo Hills. It is high time we have a CM from the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region so that major project would not be diverted to Garo Hills,” the UDP candidate said.
It may be noted that since 1972, Meghalaya has had 12 chief ministers so far, seven of whom were from Khasi Hills region.
The list of Khasi chief ministers includes Darwin Diengdoh Pugh, Brington Buhai Lyngdoh, Donwa Dethwelson Lapang, Evansius Kek Mawlong, Dr Flinder Anderson Khonglam, J Dringwell Rymbai and Dr Donkupar Roy.
The Garo chief ministers are Capt. Williamson Ampang Sangma, Purno Agitok Sangma, Salseng C Marak, Dr Mukul Manda Sangma and the incumbent Conrad Kongkal Sangma.
Earlier, Sawkmie also questioned the true intent of the national parties and said they were not concerned about the issues plaguing the indigenous communities.
“Therefore, we a need a government to be led by the regional party which will give due importance to issues afflicting the local indigenous population,” Sawkmie said.
He also questioned the Centre’s dilly-dally in implementing ILP in the state even after the State Assembly had passed a resolution on the issue.
While questioning the MoU on the interstate border dispute with Assam, Sawkmie said land falling under Meghalaya has gone to Assam but no land from Assam has come to Meghalaya.
Other candidates from Mawlai constituency who attended the common platform included NPP’s Teiborlang Pathaw, Congress’s Marbud Dkhar, VPP’s Brightstarwell Marbaniang, TMC’s Stepbourne Kupar Ryndem and BJP’s Wandonbok Jyrwa.
