By Albert Thyrniang
In November 2021 along with Mukul Sangma and 10 other Congress MLAs, he left the Congress for the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), In December 2022 he quit the Trinamool to pledge his allegiance to the saffron flag. By the time you read this article he would have donned the NPP colours. So three parties in less than two years! The person in question is Himalaya Muktan Shangpliang.
The retired MCS officer and nominated IAS officer benefited from the Mukul-PN Syiem feud and was given the Congress ticket to contest from Mawsynram constituency in 2019 Quite sensationally, he emerged victorious against Syiem who had formed the now defunct, People’ Democratic Front (PDF). Probably his proximity to the then chief minister, Mukul Sangma did the trick.
When the former chief minister was sidelined from the Congress he obliged his ‘boss’ so that the required two-thirds rule was acquired for merging with the AITC. Even political novices knew that it was a political blunder. Everyone knew that Trinamool in Mawsynram would be a no contest. Yet he went ahead following his followers who claimed that political parties are mere ‘football uniforms.’ Realising his slip-up he found a new hero in Prime Minister, Narendra Modi loftily lauding him for his ‘development oriented agenda.’ Left with no alternative he thought that ‘the communal’ party might give him a better chance to retain his seat. To justify his actions he even announced that it was the ‘Rangbah Balang’ and ‘Tymmen Basan’ (local Church leaders) who prompted him to embrace the ‘anti-Christian’ party.
He didn’t fare badly. He was the runners-up to the UDP candidate by 955 votes. Entry to the Assembly was denied, nevertheless. So, almost immediately he had issues with the state leadership. On the way out his target is Ernest Mawrie, who for the ‘young BJP’ member, did nothing much to strengthen the BJP in Meghalaya. He even accused Mawrie of nepotism, that is, getting himself recommended by MLA, AL Hek for political appointment while ignoring the ‘jobless ex legislator’. The state’s Mahila Morcha is right when they lashed out at their former leader for his ‘never ending search for greener pastures.’ They saw his brief leadership a no-asset for the party.
The reason for his joining the NPP bandwagon is because the BJP spokesperson was appointed Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya’s Education Department by the NPP government. He himself revealed that chief minister, Conrad Sangma and his deputy, Prestone Tynsong directly contacted him for the job to compensate for his absence in the Assembly. An understanding might have been arrived at to allot the NPP ticket to him in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. As it is being stated the ‘short duration’ BJP man turned to the NPP because he was not assured by the present leadership of being the BJP MP candidate. So the exit was logical, for apart from surety of party ticket, he fancies the NPP a better bet than ‘unacceptable BJP in Meghalaya.’
We bluntly and directly ask this politician, “What is your ideology?” “How are you able to so quickly adapt to diametrically different ideologies?” “Or do you have an ideology at all?” Less than two years ago, as a Congressman, he was anti BJP and anti-NPP for aligning with the Congress’ enemy no. 1. A little after he declared that only the TMC could fight the BJP. Strange but true, in a year’s time he joined the very BJP itself. Now, six months later he is a NPP leader.
These sort of habitual party changers must be rejected. Zero ideology politicians must be shunted. Personal benefit seekers should not be given space in public life. Convenience takers should have no room. Opportunists bereft of any ideology should be condemned. This is the sentiment of the voters. In the last elections, except for a couple of them, turncoats were soundly taught a lesson.
It may well turn out that the newest NPP acquisition will end up fighting against his former colleagues, Vincent Pala and George Lyngdoh in the next MP elections. Should we say that nothing is bizarre in politics?
The government issued a show case notice to the principal of Jowai Government Girls School for ‘wilfully permitting’ students to play the unofficial VPP election song during Teachers’ day celebrations. More than being concerned with educational institutions turning into political fields the government is worried about the increasing popularity of the VPP. Two weeks ago Kiang Nongbah College, also in Jowai, invited the VPP MLAs to grace the graduation day. It was a slap on the face of the government and the local MLA. The pain still persists.
The head teacher has already apologised to the government in her reply. Perhaps, in schools not only election songs should be permitted but politics itself should be taught therein. Ideology and its importance should be part of the curriculum. Questions like – what do different political parties stand for and what are their social, economic and religious stance are valid questions? In Meghalaya, ‘What is the Congress here for? ‘What is the BJP’s core belief?’ ‘What is actually the ideology of the NPP?’ ‘What about the UDP and other regional parties?’ These and more should be part of the conversation in schools and certainly in colleges. Then may be a more conscious society may emerge.
The NPP and others partners of the MDA-I and II have no issue when students participate in elections rallies and other electioneering activities. No political parties have expressed concern at the sight of many young people singing, dancing and engaging in joyrides in intoxicated state. This writer has reliable information that in the last elections first time voters were given money and liquor. Is this not worse than playing a song in a school campus? Political parties engage college students to distribute money to voters much older than them during elections. Or is it okay in the election arena while it is wrong in the school premises? Why is the government so perturbed when a party song is played during a school celebration while it is indifferent to the use of money power before young people during elections? IAS and MCS officers and other government servants also act as election officials. They show-caused a principal because her students innocently played a song associated with a party but close their eyes when malpractices take place during elections. Should good values be taught during school hours while bad ones are imparted during elections?
The NPP has the right to expand itself but not at the cost of propriety and the state’s exchequer. It looks like the party grants favours to anyone provided he or she joins the party. Martin Dango was given the Ranikor Civil Sub-Division but he was asked to dump the Congress and join the NPP. Bajop Pynrope joined the NPP soon after criticising the chief minister for singing ‘Summer of 69’ in Europe during Covid. He was given a post he hardly contributed to as alleged. The PDF MLAs merged with the NPP probably in exchange for favours. If five crores were promised before election the citizens of the state are intelligent enough to guess the amount after winning.
MDA 2.0 is well known for political appointments. It is on an appointment spree. It has defeated itself on political appointments. From Hamlet Dohling to PT Sawkmie to HM Shangpliang and other advisors, chairmen and co-chairmen, they are a dime a dozen. Losers of last elections have turned political appointees. They are kept in good humour. Not only the NPP but the coalition partners are using the state resources for their political interests. The salaries and perks amount to crores of rupees but their contribution is questionable. Either they are incompetent or they are superfluous. Chairman of the Meghalaya State Health Advisory Board, Mayralborn Syiem’s insistence of ‘perform and perish’ is certainly not true. Till the term of this government ends they are going to be there. No audit will be conducted on their performance. The tax payers will continue to fund their high remunerations in spite of their insignificant and obscure contributions.
It is not only this politician who is guilty. Political parties too are guilty. They accept any ‘winnable’ candidate even from an arch rival. I fail to understand how can Congressmen join the BJP and vice versa. How can they make an effortless shift in ideologies that are 100 degrees in contrast? It happened in Assam, in Goa, in Manipur, in Karnataka recently. It is currently happening in Madhya Pradesh. Sensing the Congress’ win in Assembly elections scheduled for the year end many BJP leaders are shifting camps. We will witness more cases as the Lok Sabha elections approach. HM Shampliang and the NPP have led the way here in Meghalaya.
It is positive to hear that the VPP has decided not to accept anyone who has been associated with another political party into their fold. Hope the newest party sticks to its decision to minimise the practice of donning multiple political colours unscrupulously.