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STRONG POINT OF CONGRESS

As the campaign is rolling away, the Congress is constantly under attack of various charges like corruption, non performance and nepotism.  The Chief Minister specially has to bear the brunt and at the same time, launch counter attacks against the opponents.  However the face saving factor of the Congress is the reduction of militancy, especially in the Garo Hills, which Mukul Sangma has claimed because of the effectiveness of the State Government. It is of course a pertinent point, that much of the killings, the kidnappings, rapes and murder have reduced and most of the insurgents are on the run or have surrendered. The GNLA Chief Sohan Shira is however still at large.  Mukul claimed that the credit goes to the Congress party which is heading the Government.

  A Non Congress factor of the reduction of militancy is Demonetisation brought about by the BJP Government, which dealt a crushing blow to the coffers of the GNLA and other militant outfits.   

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OPTIMISTIC VIEW ON NPP-PDF ALLIANCE

The elections in the present political situation, does not promise of any party emerging as a single party winner. Post election wind is therefore blowing. Already the United Democratic Party (UDP)- Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) are on the cards. Coming up now is the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) led by Chief Minister Candidate, Pynshngain N. Syiem who has come out with the offer that the PDF is willing to share governance   with the National People’s Party (NPP), which he has termed as being major players in the electoral game. Counting the chickens before they hatch, P.N. Syiem has calculated that the PDF would bag 15 out of the 30 seats that the party is fielding. Syiem also being the Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills District Council, pointed that the strength of the UDP, has been reduced to 4 in the Council, and the HSPDP is left with only two and added that the BJP has still a long way to go in politics in the state.  He further affirmed that the Congress has little chance and will not come back to power.

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REMOVING RELIGIOUS STIGMA 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), enter the poll with high hopes of winning as many seats as possible. Specially coming in for the first time in a big way, yet there is a drawback of having the religious stigma which is associated with the agenda of the RSS  propagation of one religion in the country, which has a diversify belief of various religious belief. The party, especially in Meghalaya has built up a strategy, to woo various religious   denominations. This has come about with the announcement of Tourism Union Minister K.J Alphons of a rupees 70 crore sop of promoting spiritual tourism in the state under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. This proposal   is probably for the first time in the country. Altogether about 40 such projects have been identified to include major sites of the traditional Khasi religion, Niam Khasi Niam tre and the different Christian denominations, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. A meeting was convened   to this effect in New Delhi. There was however no representative from the Congress rules state of Meghalaya.   K.J. Alphons is sour on the attitude of the state government and has expressed his exasperation that the State Government always wants to be anti BJP.        

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THE BELEAGUERED WOMEN POWER

Women power in any community and society has its own role to play, even within a clan or family. The power provides confidence, guidance and also serves as a booster. Therefore in every political party, there is always a women wing.  During the current elections, the women wing of the contesting parties has been geared up. Unfortunately, the Congress seems to have lost its grip on the women wing. The Mahila State Congress have been watered down with the resignation of the General secretary, Havergail Edwina Bareh, who has now formally joined the National People’s Party (NPP) has to her credit,  a fairly good  political record, who secured 2000 votes in the 2014 District council elections.

Havergail is now set to lock horn in the electoral battle from the Shillong West or Mawprem constituency. Interestingly she would be engaged in the contest against sitting legislator Paul Lyngdoh and also his arch rival Mahendro Rapsang of the Congress.   This would upset the vote bank especially of Mahendro Rapsang, as she had extended support to him during the last assembly elections. Along with Havergail, important functionaries of the Mahila Congress, have also left the Congress fold, including former President Ebel War and also N. Warjri. P. Nongpluh and also Liliancy Lyngdoh.        

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NPP leader urged people to teach CM' a lesson

NPP leader Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh warned the people of Meghalaya to be careful in availing the last-minute schemes distributed by Dr. Mukul Sangma. One such scheme is the Empowerment of Women Scheme, which was inaugurated way back in 2012. He cited an example of how beneficiaries of this scheme were asked by banks to repay the loan that was disbursed through this scheme.

Meanwhile Mr. Tynsong accused Dr. Sangma of looting the people and the state by introducing useless schemes for farmers like ‘Agar’ and ‘Anthurium plantations’. According to Mr. Tynsong, the money could have been distributed to the farmers who would have used their wisdom and experience to plant what is most suitable for them. He cited this as an example of Dr. Mukul Sangma’s modus operandi to make money. He urged the people of Meghalaya to put an end to this system of looting the people and to teach Mukul Sangma a lesson.

Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh clarified that even though he’s been with the Congress for more than 30 years, he was kicked out from the Congress by the two doctors i.e. Dr. Mukul and Dr. D.D. Lapang because he fought for the development of the area and because they claimed that he’s too old.

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LJP submitted a memorandum to the President

The Meghalaya unit of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) submitted a memorandum to the President, Ram Nath Kovind through Meghalaya Governor, Ganga Prasad on a number of issues which includes the demand to include Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, intervention of Prime Minister’s Office for finding solution of boundary dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, passing and implementation of Village Administration Bill (VAB) to empower local chiefs constitutionally, waiver of farmers’ loans in Meghalaya, pursue overall development in the state and to verify if funds have been utilized properly, and the Prime Minister’s Office should initiate peace talk with militant organizations in Meghalaya. 

Since inception of the State in 1972, the condition of villages has not changed. There is no development in rural areas, no roads, interrupted electricity, no health centre in villages, education scam, unemployment of youths is rising as job opportunities were not available in the state, and economy has come down due to ban on coal mining.