SHILLONG, May 17– While regional parties have proved to be forces to reckon with even at the Centre, regional politics in Meghalaya has been systematically weakened over the last decade, largely due to lack of clear-cut policies and factional bickerings. The regional outfits have failed to make their presence felt even in the arena of state politics as shown by the results of the Lok Sabha and last assembly elections in the state. The regional parties have been relegated to play the second fiddle to the Congress, which leads the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in the State.
Despite putting up a brave front and displaying solidarity by fielding a ‘consensus’ candidate under the banner of the Regional Parties’ Alliance (RPA), the verdict of the people in the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency, which went in favour of the Congress once again brought to light the fact that the regional parties have not been able to highlight issues affecting the common people of the state. The slow weakening of regional politics in Meghalaya gathered momentum in the runup to the Assembly elections and later, the district council elections, specially in the Khasi Hills, due to utter lack of co-ordination and infighting among the regional parties, thus, paving the way for the Congress to assume the centre-stage even in grass-root politics.
Realising the impending danger of being completely decimated, prominent regional parties of the state – United Democratic Party (UDP), Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) – made a last-ditch effort at unity by fielding a common candidate for the parliamentary elections.
However, lack of political will became apparent during the low-key and lacklustre campaigning due to lack of co-operation and proper co-ordination amongst the regional parties, ultimately led to the defeat of the regional candidate. Several regional party members even carried out whisper campaigns in favour of the Congress, thereby sending a wrong message to the people at large.
Although Meghalaya attained statehood through the relentless democratic struggle waged by the then All People’s Hill Leadership Conference (APHLC) - the mother of regional politics, today it is the Congress which rules the roost in the hill state.
Nevertheless, the regional parties have once again mooted the idea of complete unification to highlight ‘regional aspirations’. The result of the election for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat has made it clear that the regional parties are second only to the Congress in the state, as the BJP, clearly has found very little foot-hold. Therefore, a strong political will and collective endeavour by the regional parties, could, perhaps, once again strengthen regional politics in the state.