SHILLONG: Tranquility reigns in Meghalaya and the familiar sound and fury ahead of elections is perceptibly missing. Why? Perhaps because political parties are cash-strapped. At least UDP president Donkupar Roy thinks so.
Roy has gone on record saying that candidates do not have much money to spend in election campaigning and if political parties had the moolah they would surely have organised huge public meetings.
“I have seen many political parties bringing huge crowds to attend public meetings which involve spending a lot of money, as parties need to pay for transportation and food,” he said.
Dwelling on the evils of money power in elections, Roy said that the use of money in elections is the principal reason why politicians tend to get corrupt and also why defection is so rampant these days.
The rush for money during elections has a damaging effect on both the winner and the loser, he maintained. “If the winner resorts to money power during elections, he will become corrupt and will try to recover the expenditure he made during the elections. If he sits in the opposition, he is likely to defect to other parties,” he said.
Roy said that those who spend a huge sum ahead of elections often have to sell off their property to cover the expenses. As a result, their family ties are shattered.
He added that the UDP is more organised this time than in the previous years and the party is sure to win more seats. Stating that the UDP-HSPDP-GNC has their own separate alliance, Roy pointed out: “In the eventuality of no political party being able to form a government, all parties will approach the UDP to cooperate.” The UDP got a boost with Manstudy Nongrem, who recently joined the HSPDP, deciding to extend support to the UDP candidate from Ranikor constituency, Pius Marwein.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the UDP president, Nongrem said it was time to give an opportunity to the regional parties in the state. Asked why he left the Congress, Nongrem smiled and said it was his personal matter.
