Editor,
The job of a politician is to serve the people who elected them. When an incumbent politician fails to deliver on this fundamental responsibility, it can be a frustrating experience for the constituents. Today, we will discuss a real-life case of an incumbent politician who has failed to serve her constituency well, leaving them in the dark and without basic necessities such as water and electricity. The local politician in question has been in power for several years. Despite her promises during election campaigns to improve the lives of her constituents, she has failed to deliver on many of her promises. The Laitumkhrah streets are dark, with little to no street lights to guide people at night.
Apart from the lack of street lights, there are also issues with the water and electricity supply. The constituency experiences frequent power outages, and residents have to endure long periods without electricity. This has affected businesses and livelihoods in the area. Additionally, there is a scarcity of clean water. Despite these challenges, the incumbent politician seems uninterested in addressing these issues. Instead, she has focused on building a grand bust of her late father, who was also a politician. The bust is located in the centre of the street, and it is illuminated by bright floodlights that shine all night. This is a clear irony: a politician who cannot provide basic necessities for her people, but spends public funds to illuminate a personal tribute.
The situation has frustrated many residents who feel neglected by their representatives. They have protested, written letters, and made numerous requests for basic amenities such as street lights, water, and electricity, but nothing seems to have changed. The lack of action on the part of the politician has fuelled a sense of disillusionment among the people, who have lost faith in the political system. In conclusion, the story of the incumbent politician who lights up her father’s bust while neglecting her constituents is a sad reminder of how politicians can fail the people they were elected to serve.
Basic necessities such as streetlights, water, and electricity should not be luxuries but fundamental rights. It is essential that politicians focus on delivering these essentials to their constituents and put their interests above personal tributes or personal gain. Only then can the people have trust and faith in the political system.
The irony of the incumbent politician’s behaviour is even more apparent when she has actively campaigned for her sister, who is running for office in another constituency. During these campaigns, the incumbent ‘leader’ has criticized the lack of basic amenities such as water and electricity in that constituency, promising to address those issues if her sister is elected. It is baffling that she can make such promises to people in another constituency when she has failed to deliver on the same promises in her own constituency. Her behaviour reeks of hypocrisy and highlights her lack of concern for the people who elected her.
Fortunately, the residents of East Shillong are educated and well-informed. They are well aware of the incumbent MLA’s false promises, fickle-mindedness, and lack of commitment to the people. They have seen through her opportunistic behaviour and know that she cannot be trusted to deliver on her promises. The people of East Shillong are not the kind to fall for empty rhetoric or be swayed by political opportunism. They demand a representative who is committed to their welfare and willing to work hard to improve their lives. It is only a matter of time before the people of East Shillong demand better representation and vote out the incumbent MLA, paving the way for a more committed and responsible representative.
The incumbent MLA’s lack of commitment to her constituents was further highlighted when she failed to attend a public debate hosted by the Seng Samla, Laitumkhrah. The debate was an opportunity for the people to hear from their representatives and assess their commitment to their welfare. However, the incumbent MLA did not bother to attend the program, citing the reason that she had already answered the questions. This excuse was untrue, and it only served to highlight her lack of concern for the people she was elected to serve. The fact that she could not spare a few hours to attend a public debate shows how little she cares about the issues affecting her constituents. Her absence from the program only served to further cement her image as a politician who is least bothered to serve the people of her constituency.
The incumbent politician’s lack of commitment to her principles is further evidenced by her political flip-flopping. Prior to joining the NPP, she was a member of the Congress party and was a vocal critic of the current NPP-led MDA government. She actively criticized their policies, pointing out their failures and promising to do better. However, she switched sides and joined the very party she had criticized. This kind of political opportunism and fickleness only serves to further erode the people’s trust in politicians. A proper politician should have a set of guiding principles and stay committed to them, even when faced with challenges. It is unacceptable to switch sides based on personal gain or opportunism, and the people deserve better.
Yours etc.,
Lyzander Edgar,
Via email
What’s 5-star Meghalaya
Editor,
As I glanced through the front page headlines of The Shillong Times the other day I came upon the scathing criticism against the Congress Party from the famous young greenhorn and sharp-witted politician, Bajop Pyngrope. He called the election utterances of the Congressmen a daydream that if given a chance to rule Meghalaya in 2023 the Party would turn our state into a 5- Star state. I wonder what a 5- Star state means? The Congress has ruled the state for over 30 years yet it reduced Meghalaya into one of the most corrupt states in the North East that almost equalled Nagaland. However, in the last 5 years the NPP- led Government surpassed it and reduced our State into the most corrupt State in the North East with open daylight robbery and plunder still continuing even now. So what is the greenhorn politician of NPP talking about? Isn’t this a case of the pot calling the kettle black here or what is it?
Then I also glanced at a Letter to the Editor of the same paper in which one V. K Lyngdoh emphatically stated that NPP will win 33 seats with ease in the ensuing elections and will form the next government in the state. This person might have had his calculation right or he might have been a habitual guesser or born out of being a staunch supporter of or campaigner for NPP. He is well within his rights to make wild guesses. Anyway the NPP which has within its fold the proud and haughty, the high and mighty and the rich and powerful people will definitely be fighting hard to get to number one, nay, being the number one in double digit figures.
For such people, fortune may not always be on their side. On the other hand the poor and the lowly may have the last laugh.
Yours etc.,
Philip Marwein,
Senior Journalist,
Shillong-2.
NPP’s double standards
Editor,
The NPP national vice president, Prestone Tyngsong’s recent statement claiming that the Mukul Sangma-led TMC will merge with BJP after the declaration of election results can be widely interpreted as a ” ploy” by the NPP to engineer defection of TMC legislators to the saffron party, an ally of the NPP. It is also a bid to forge a post-poll alliance with BJP and retain power. As might be expected, the “power-hungry” party will leave no stone unturned to engineer ‘splits’ or ‘mergers’ by taking advantage of the loophole of the 52nd Constitution Amendment. Meghalaya needs a break from the feckless NPP and its allies. The state is no more on top of either politics or governance, while corruption has eaten into the political class. Meghalaya cries for release.
Yours etc.,
Marshanlang Rymbai,
Via email