SHILLONG, July 31: The nine-MLA Opposition bench is strong enough to take on the government and unmask its “abuse of power, anti-people policies, and deliberate attempts to derail public interest”, Leader of the Opposition, Mukul M Sangma, said on Thursday.
After Ronnie V Lyngdoh, the last Congress MLA, joined the National People’s Party on Wednesday, the Opposition bench has five Trinamool Congress (TMC) and four Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislators.
“They may be having this wishful thinking,” Sangma said, when asked if there are attempts to wipe the Opposition camp out.
“Whatever the number, the TMC and VPP are enough to deal with this present dispensation and expose their alleged irregularities,” he said.
He warned that the ruling coalition was mistaken if it believed it could continue operating with impunity. “We will expose anti-people programmes, how power is abused and misused. Unfortunate things are unfolding in different parts of the state,” he said.
Aiming at illegal coal trade, Sangma said, “The coal issue is a very strange story; everybody tries to protect illegality.”
He questioned the government’s priorities and intent, asserting that core issues were being sidelined.
“They come up with one thing or another to dislocate the main issues, which can have serious ramifications on the overall interest of the state and lead to complications in future,” he said.
Sangma highlighted how laws like the RTI, passed to ensure transparency, are being sidelined. “Find out how many sporting associations were supported during our time and how they have been undone. The programmes and policies of the government are being weaponised to serve their self-serving agendas,” he alleged.
He also questioned the appointment of consultants and the distribution of benefits. “Who is benefiting? What is the quantum of money involved?” he asked, warning that “they cannot go on with such activities with impunity”.
Sangma assured that the Opposition would continue its job with diligence. “They will be exposed. They will think twice before sending any feelers,” he said.
Referring to Lyngdoh’s resignation from Congress, he said the shift in political dynamics must be viewed in the broader context of democratic values. “It is ultimately up to the people to assess and respond to such changes. Public participation in the democratic process is what gives the system its legitimacy,” he added.
He underlined the importance of voters understanding the weight of their electoral rights, suggesting that only a responsible and informed electorate can ensure that the foundation of democracy remains intact and immune to uncertainty. According to him, the kind of leadership people choose reflects their judgment and level of awareness, and he called for a deeper analysis on the part of the voters.
Asked about the possibility of further defections from his camp, Sangma said that the quality of one’s political comrades matters greatly. He drew a parallel with frontline combat, saying that those who abandon the post before a single bullet is fired cannot be counted as reliable allies.
“Each day in politics brings its own set of battles, and knowing who stands beside you in such a climate is crucial,” he said.
He emphasised that the process of selecting candidates and getting them elected is not just about numbers, but about values and conviction. “It is the discernment in choosing the right people that makes all the difference,” he said.
