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Interview dated 20th December The Hill State Peoples Democratic Party(HSPDP) is perhaps the last of the surviving regional parties of the state of Meghalaya and that of North East India. The Assam Gana Parishad (AGP), which is a regional party in the state of Assam was given a lifeline in the concluded Assam election of 2017 where the national party Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) had an alliance with it. However the HSPDP seems to be going alone in the state of Meghalaya as it is vehemently opposed to having any alliance with either the Indian National Congress (INC) or the BJP. The INC has not ruled out any post poll alliance with the HSPDP. The stakes for HSPDP is higher than many of the other parties contesting the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Elections simply because last time round in 2012 they could garner only 4 seats. With the passing of the stalwart in H.S. Lyngdoh the responsibility now lies with Mr Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, the new chief whip of the party. Our Editor, Harsh Jhunjhunwala met with Bah Ardent to discuss the oncoming elections and a little more. Here are the excerpts from the interview.

What is the vision of HSPDP?

You see as a party we have a vision for the state and for a better future for the indigenous people of the state and that is what we stand for.

Politically your presence is not in the entire state of Meghalaya? It is limited to Khasi Hills and somewhat in Jaintia Hills. How do you think that you can make the vision successful for all round development of the indigenous peoples?

I think you have raised a very pertinent question. Our presence is felt mostly in Khasi Hills region. Though we have a vision for the State and Khasi Jaintia region in particular we understand that we will not get the opportunity to realize our dream and to ensure that our vision is taking its complete form we forge an alliance with UDP, another regional Party in-order to fulfill the aspiration of the people and to make our dream come true. And with this alliance we will be able to be in the government and we will be able to take up issues that concern the indigenous people of the state.

Sir will both UDP and HSPDP be fighting in 35 seats approximately?

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KSU urges citizen to be vigilant

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) on the mid-night of 31^st December 2017 released 1.9 crore names which have been accepted in the NRC list. This made several Northeast States to stay vigil on the borders to check on influx.

In Meghalaya after the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) the Khasi Student Union (KSU) has urged the State Government to steadily and firmly implement the Meghalaya Resident, Safety, and Security (MRSS) Act 2017. The Union also urged all the other NGOs, Headman, Youth Association, and Villages Defence Party (VDP) to stay alert and keeps an eye on the borders and watch out for illegal immigrants.

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The High Court of Meghalaya had no other option but to cancel the entire appointment of LP school teachers since the scam was of a gigantic proportion. “It had been a matter of such inconceivable black deeds with white fluid where the entire process could only be cancelled as being fraudulent,” the division bench of Meghalaya High Court had said in its 105-page order.

Even a glance at the outline foregoing would make it evident that serious issues, concerning the fairness and legality of the process of selection to the post of Assistant Teacher in Government Lower Primary Schools in the State of Meghalaya are involved and the entire matter is to be re-examined in the light of the two reports made by the CBI and the HLSC coupled with the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties.

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North-eastern Regional Agriculture Fair 2018 begins today

The Honourable Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh today inaugurate the North-eastern Regional Agriculture Fair 2018 at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Complex Umiam, Meghalaya. The 4 days Agricultural Fair is being participated by farmers from all over the Northeast region. While addressing the inauguration programme the Union Minister said that the Central Government has initiated different incentives for all farmers in the country especially for those farmers in rural areas. He also said remind the people that ICAR Research Complex in Umiam has done many basic Strategic and applied research specific to the farming problems of the Northeast Region. All together the Research complex has developed 32 locations for specific farming system which include agro forestry model which would be an alternative for shifting cultivation.

The Minister appreciates the ICAR Umiam for launching several programs to double up the income of the farmers in several Villages across the State for the next five years. He also said that 90 percent of financial assistance is provided to the North-eastern States and he also urged the Meghalaya Government to sincerely utilised and assist all the farmers regarding their financial assistance.

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NPP SHOW OF STRENGTH

As many as eight Legislators and seven Members of District Council tagged themselves to the National People’s Party (NPP) in a show of strength at polo grounds in Shillong, the Tura Members of Parliament also NPP President, Conrad K. Sangma said “What Mukul did to the state, it is not easy to change but as a team the challenge would be met, in making ‘mission 2018’ NPP for ‘new Meghalaya”. Those who have crossed over from the Congress are Prestone Tynsong, Comingone Ymbon, Sniawbhalang Dhar and Ngaitlang Dhar and Rowell Lyngdoh. Other from the United Democratiuc Party (UDP) Remington Pyngrope and two independent Hopeful Bamon and Stephanson Mukhim, besides six sitting members of the Jaintia Hills District Council and one from the Khasi Hills. Conrad expressed his regrets that the way the present Chief Minister is working, has shattered the dreams of former leaders like Captain Williamson Sangma and Brington Buhai Lyngdoh.

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NCP loosing its foothold in Meghalaya

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has unfolded its party flag, to come in a big way in the election arena to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. The NCP is seen to be ambitious in planning to contest all sixty seats. Hectic consultations and meetings are being held with NCP National Secretary in charge North Eastern State Prafu Patel, the National Secretary in charge. North Eastern States Narendra Verma, who have made up and down trips between Shillong and New Delhi. However there is a major snag, that NCP State President Sanbor Shullai was removed from his post as it was known then that he was flirting with the BJP. Sanbor Shullai represents the key constituency of Laban and was the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Recently Mr. Shullai joined the BJP giving a big boost to the BJP.

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P.N. Syiem Stand tall in 9^th Meghalaya State Assembly

As the time pass by from one day to another day, the ninth Meghalaya State Assembly, which came into being on March 1 in the year 2003, its face kept on changing specially in the replacement of the leadership. Mukul Sangma, however would finally dissolve on March 6 2018. At present thirteen sitting Legislators, which include six from the ruling congress have resigned. Notable however is Pynshgnain N.Syiem Chief Executive Member of the District Khasi Hills, also Congress Legislators, who stick to his guns till the last, challenging the dual membership. P.N. Syiem now led the newly formed regional People s Democratic Front (PDF) and would continue to fight from the Mawsynram constituency of East Khasi Hills being challenged by Bureaucrat Himalaya Shangpliang of the Congress.

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The four Musketeers entry to BJP Meghalaya

Who don’t want to be part of the growing and happy family? Is welcoming question posed by the Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Shibun Lyngdoh as four important legislators of the Meghalaya Assembly, had shifted their allegiance. On the fore front is Sanbor Shullai State President of the National Congress Party (NCP) former Deputy speaker of the State Assembly representing Laban constituency hoped to the BJP bandwagon. Secondly A.L. Hek a strong contender from the Pynthor-umkhrah constituency has rejoined BJP but for some time was in the congress camp as minister of health and family welfare, under the Mukul Sangma Ministry but was dropped last year. Hek was the first BJP Legislators when he won in 1998 and subsequently in 2003 and 2008 polls. The other two legislators are Robinus Syngkon who was parliamentary Secretary and also Justin Dkhar both independents. Khasi Hills District Council members Ricky Shullai the nephew of Sanbor Shullai also join the BJP.