A state government that lacks stability will only result in a directionless and chaotic Meghalaya, United Democratic Party (UDP) general secretary Jemino Mawthoh has told Highland Post.
This is why, he explained, that the second-largest party in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government will have to stick it out until the 2023 election – at the very least.
While the UDP may paint it as a bitter pill, it has been accused of trying to have its cake and eat it too – namely of enjoying all the perks of being in power but also criticising the National People’s Party (NPP), which leads the coalition, when it suits the UDP.
With elections in less than a year’s time, some senior UDP figures have been sounding less than enthusiastic about the government’s functioning and have been trying to put as much distance as possible between the party and the string of blunders that have tarnished the MDA’s image of late, such as the collapse of the dome at the under-construction new Assembly building and leaky Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT).
However, when pushed on why it does not quit the MDA in protest, party leaders come up with various excuses. State stability is the latest but another one that came up recently was because bringing down the government would only lead to President’s Rule, which the UDP fears would be even worse; this reason was mocked by Deputy Chief Minister and NPP leader Prestone Tynsong.
Despite advocating the need for stability, Mawthoh could not but help take another dig at the NPP.
“Even though we are inside (government), sometimes the NPP does not listen to the suggestions made by the party but if we are outside (government) then who will listen?” he said.
The UDP has always thought of the stability of Meghalaya and any move by the party (which has nine MLAs) to leave the MDA could “disturb the stability” and could lead the public to blame the UDP if “something goes wrong”.
That something is President’s Rule, according to the former MLA. If coalition allies sometimes squabble over their differences, states and the central government do too. President’s Rule would give the Centre direct control over Meghalaya and could lead to all sorts of calamities, Mawthoh fears.
“If we let go then President’s Rule may come in. That is sometimes good but sometimes it may be misused,” he said. “Look at the central policies on the CAA (the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act), imposition of Hindi language, amendment of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and so many other things.”
Given these dangers, the UDP would rather stay the course with the MDA no matter how unpalatable it is right now.
