Shillong, Dec 9: United Democratic Party (UDP) working president Paul Lyngdoh feels that a split in the opposition camp would be an advantage to the regional parties.
“It is definitely an advantage to regional parties due to a split in the other camp,” he said.
Sustaining new party difficult
At the same time, speaking about Ardent Basaiawmoit’s party ‘Voice of the People Party’ and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), he said it is not easy to form a political party and even more difficult to sustain it, with gaining electorally being even more difficult.
Recalling his days during the formation of Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), he said, “We formed with high hopes in 2002 but in 2003 elections there were only two who won despite influx, reservation policy, Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE)… sustaining political parties is difficult in the state, in 2008 we did not pay any dividends and only one of our candidates won from KHNAM.”
Trinamool Congress major challenger to power structure
Speaking about AITC, he said Trinamool Congress is a different story altogether and seen as an emerging challenger in the power politics of Meghalaya before 2023.
“Meghalaya politics is individual driven, therefore, political parties do not have much space atleast in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills. AITC will have more bearings in Garo Hills as its chief architect Mukul Sangma has been instrumental in the victory records of the Congress in the past two decades,” Lyngdoh said.
He pointed out that as per records it is the first time in political history of the state that the opposition is so divided and this is to the advantage of parties in the government.
“As I said Congress has already been wiped out, obliterated in Garo Hills. With that as a major consideration, it will have huge bearings in 2023,” he said.
ILP and AFSPA
Giving his opinion on Inner Line Permit (ILP), Lyngdoh said that the State Assembly has already adopted a resolution in favour of ILP. He suggested that the resolution adopted by the Assembly should be pursued rigorously with the Center including the one on Eighth Schedule.
Speaking on Armed Forces (Special Forces) Act or AFSPA encouraging extra-judicial killings, he said the imposition of the Act is an acknowledgement that the Centre considers the North East India to be a problem area.
“Nowhere can we have two sets in the same country. Issues of riots and militancy terrorism is not only in North East. It is an all-India phenomenon. So to confine AFSPA only to the North East is an acknowledgement that the Center considers North East to be a problem area. It encourages the men in uniform to overtake the political system. How can you justify such a law,” he said.
