By Gregory Shullai
There is no such thing as a general cause that compels politicians to switch their allegiance from the political party/coalition they are in to something entirely opposed to their former ideologies, and since this is precisely what’s happening in Meghalaya politics, it is something that needs an in-depth examination on the pros and cons if we are to ever get at a logical and a reasonable explanation for this exodus to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). We have to act like doctors who diagnose symptoms to arrive at the underlying malaise. As a matter of fact, we give too little importance to the reasons that cause politicians to leave their old Party because everyone seems to consider that there is only one reason and that is – a vested interest. Nevertheless, in the present circumstances though finance may be one of the interests, there most certainly are other compelling circumstances, personal and political. And we will come to them. As a matter of fact, most politicians nationwide, give too little thought to the welfare of the State and its people when deciding on anything that they do collectively or individually, and when the welfare of the State and its people is not a “numero uno” priority, and when switching party/alliances is a matter of personal benefit, we are naturally compelled to ask, “what is/are the driving force/s?” But let us give credit where credit is due and learn to admit that sometimes the ego of a politician is not shrewd enough and his reason is not always as selfish as we tend to suspect. On these noble thoughts let us proceed to analyze what is causing this cascading effect of the politicians in Meghalaya to the BJP. Reports have it that eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs have joined the BJP.
As there have been many reasons attributed to the why and wherefore of this sudden bid to join hands with the BJP, and knowing that there will be many more compilations of this sort in the days to come, let me provide what I think are the possible reasons for this switching of political allegiance and especially whether the leadership of the State is at stake. I have always wanted some competent person to simply describe the various possibilities for this sudden defection of our politicians from the party they represent to the BJP in the context of political ideology as a whole, and to make a plain statement as to why they are doing it now, but nothing has come in this direction so far. Besides, there is this important point to remember: if a politician wishes to understand his prospects and that of his contemporaries in any election, he must try to be something of an outsider looking in, and not an insider with a personal bias. The trends that have set in (in the past 15-20 years) reveal with almost perfect exactitude the type of the next generation of politicians that will shoulder the mantle of governance in Meghalaya, and it’s anything but encouraging. In the kind of politics that prevails now, neither morality nor political thought come into contact with reality at any point – nothing but personal interests dominate the politicians’ mind. For them, democracy is purely a phenomenon that must work against the higher individuals and bring to the fore the weak, the mediocre, the cunning and the corrupt. It is very evident from what is going on around us that democracy has taken the side of everything weak, base and ill constituted. It appears as though there is not a single individual from among the elected leaders who seems to be good enough for the true job expected of a leader. And as to the commentaries in social media on why our politicians are forsaking the State leadership in favour of national leaders, there has not been even a word, and so, that is where the crux of the matter lies. What is going on now, I think, will be revealed and shall be confronted in the days to come…even in the long-term future of the citizens of the State, because for the present, there is no distinct clarity between known devils and unknown angels.
What is happening now is a momentous occasion in the history of the State and its people because what is concerning is the prevailing religious bigotry in the rest of the country. This has become the talking point at least among the elders. But having said that, the fact remains that there is no other political party that has a national base as solid as the BJP. Even supposing that in the days to come the hopes and suggestions that another national party will emerge I believe, nevertheless, that those that join hands with the ruling (national) party at this juncture shall not be able to extricate themselves from this new alignment so easily, and even if they could it would not be without some injuries to one’s political prospects. It could also be that what they are heading into from this current cascade is something that may land them into a situation from which they shall reach some unfamiliar circumstances with no formula as to how to handle the new set of circumstances, but for now it is exactly as they desired, and we will come to that in the following paras. Having deliberately refused to heed the writings on the wall, ignore advice or turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to warnings on aligning with a national party just because it is a national party in power at the Centre it is clear that this new friendship is like new wine – very agreeable though perhaps a trifle dangerous. It is being spoken that some are hoping to make a greater impact on the national leaders to change the leadership – that politicians expect, hope, and wish for better prospects, is taken for granted. If this is the reason for the switch in party, I deeply sympathize with their bold decision to join a national party in power at the Centre, and, believe me, their wishes are mine. A fresh, good, and optimistic leader is something we have needed for a long time now. Many of our politicians have made their ascendency on their personal merit alone, and now they must discover how to set themselves apart from the rest and uncover a better morality in politics, and this can come from being aligned with leaders who have raised themselves to become leaders in a democratic set up like the kind we have in India. That they didn’t open their eyes earlier is sad, that their blindness to what is going on in the State is a crime against the very people they claim to love. What is going on in Meghalaya is an event without parallel, a real catastrophe. And therefore, at this point in time, it is imperative that our politicians introspect and justify and convince themselves and everyone else of their deep earnestness in the matter of the people, and the State. That it is these matters that have compelled them to act.
Coming back to why this cascade to the BJP, let me mention what I think started it all…. the fact that the CAAG released the figures of debt that the State has landed into under the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) – ₹26,000crores. That’s no small number considering that we have a State of barely 24000sq Kms, which would indicate that on an average an investment of ₹1000crores has been made into every sq km of the State; and there does not exist anything anywhere throughout the State that would justify this preposterous hypothesis; even the Government is not interested in clarifying this staggering financial transaction because anything it says might only damn its position and may even draw the long arm of the CBI and the ED into the picture which is something this Government cannot afford…the evidences would be all too damning.
So having passed the first cause let us look at the other likely causes.
The NPP, as the ruling Party in the coalition has been demure – and it is not a “proud silence” that has sealed their boastful claims to everyone all this time, but rather a kind of humble silence of one suffering from a guilty conscience and apparently ashamed of betraying the extent of gains certain individuals holding the reins, or close to those holding the reins have made. When an animal is ill it crawls into its cave – so does the beastly kind of politician. It is not beyond the limits of possibility that some politicians in the ruling conglomerate are the wealthiest politicians of the age on an All-North East India basis, yes, maybe even beyond just the North East. And being so they have distanced themselves from their fellow politicians. But a man is constantly paying for holding such an isolated position. The fact is that in isolating themselves, isolation becomes every day more complete, more icy, and more cutting. Just look at how some politicians are ignored, especially the (former) UDP members and some NPP members as well. Many of them have won multiple times and are being treated like freshers and not one of them is even receiving a moderately good review of the hard work they have done! everything is focused on only a few individuals! people are having no hesitation in using such words as eccentric, pathological, psychiatric against the faces that represent the State in every advertisement – in closed circles that is, and there have been slanderous hints enough about these individuals, though in the papers both scholarly and unscholarly, the prevailing attitude is one of sarcastic appreciation…but how is it that no one protests against these individuals openly? How is it that no one feels insulted when these individuals make open claims of success stories in the State as if they flowed from them? What about the “real politicians” who are out there in the field listening to the pains the people face and even extending a helping hand from out of their own pockets? For all these efforts without comfort of hearth and home is there no drop of sympathy? Not a breath of love? Under these circumstances one has to fight back and what better time than now, when the breaking news concerns loans of upto ₹26000 crores? What better time than now when the elections are just another 18 months away? For them the style of the face of the government in the State is nothing more than a bad style or rather no style in so far as Meghalaya politics is concerned. It was never like this – they want a change.
When only a few faces represent the politics of the State it is like creating demi-gods that rise miles above the understanding and the lack of understanding of their fellow leaders. In saying this it is a few among our leaders that I have in mind. After all, perhaps to be aware of this alone is an invaluable piece of insight because with it one approaches quite near to what we remember we once were and because after understanding it, one jumps with a mighty spring back to oneself. Let us continue to do that which we enjoy doing – that which gives us a clean conscience about ourselves; for the rest, silence or “as God may please.”
