Shillong: Though the election dates are yet to be announced for Meghalaya polls, an interesting battle seems to be on the cards in the tiny hilly state, where the ruling Congress government faces a stiff challenge to save its bastion in the mindst of huge anti-incumbency. The newly formed Nationalist People’s Party (NPP), an ally of NDA government at the centre appears to have seized the initial momentum with many of the disgruntled Congress MLA’s including cabinet minister has walked into its fold.
The NPP is led by Conrad Sangma, who is a Member of Parliament from Tura constituency and son of late Purno Ajitok Sangma, who questioned the foreign origin of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and walked out of the party along with Sharad Pawar and Tariaq Anwar to form Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
For ruling Congress problems are plenty, eight of its MLA’s resigned from the party at the end of the last year and joined rival parties like BJP and NPP. The situation came to such a pass that Congress President Rahul Gandhi had to intervene and change the party president ship from veteran Congress leader in the state D D Lapang to Celestine Lyngdoh. Since the election bugle most of its prominent faces are missing in run up to the campaign before election dates. Whereas parties like BJP more or less on a regular basis flying its top leadership to the pine city that is holding rallies in different corners of the state.
For BJP it will be a tough ask to make its number count in the Christian dominated state, but hope on the party rests in urban belts of the state where it tasted success during Vajpayee regime. Many sitting Congress MLAs with winning probability have joined the saffron brigade.In earlier years, the politics of the hill state is prominently dominated by local issues, but many would argue that in changing political dynamics in the country, BJP stands a chance to make its presence felt in the 40 member assembly. On top of that NPP which is an ally in the NDA government is on a strong footing in run up to the elections.
BJP is also trying to tie knot with smaller parties in the state like UDP and HSPDP, which holds clout in a few pockets in the East and West Khasi Hills.On the other hand Congress, which is in power since 2003, finds it house in complete disarray, with present Chief Minister Mukul Sangma facing barrage of allegations from his own party colleague who deserted the party citing reason of Sangma’s dictatorial attitude. But it will be too early to write off Congress chances in the coming elections. But if morning shows the day the grand old party has to do lot of catching up if it wants to turn the table in its favour. (UNI)
