Twenty per cent of voters are bad eggs who take politicians’ money and do not care about real issues, Saleng Sangma, the lone Nationalist Congress Party MLA in Meghalaya, said.
Although there are many groups that have protested against the government over one issue or another in the last few years, these issues are forgotten about during elections, the Gambegre representative opined.
“People have the habit of forgetting, even issues that are very important. After a few months they fade away, so whatever issues are raised now, I don’t think people will remember them at election time,” Saleng said, adding that 20 percent of voters, in his opinion, are swayed by money and make a lot of noise.
Meanwhile, on the prospects of the Trinamool Congress, Sangma reminded observers that the TMC is not new to Meghalaya, as the late Purno A Sangma had once belonged to it and been elected as an MP while a member.
The NCP was a major player in Meghalaya politics under Purno but it has largely been in the wilderness ever since he and his children – current Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, cabinet minister James PD Sangma and Tura MP Agatha Sangma – left the party to build the National People’s Party.
Nevertheless, Saleng appears happy to go it alone, having just met NCP leaders Praful Patel and Sharad Paward in New Delhi recently. Saleng also said he understands why the NCP leadership does not visit Meghalaya like leaders of national parties do in the run-up to elections.
“In the past they (the NCP) were betrayed by PA Sangma along with other MLAs. Then in Arunachal 5 MLAs betrayed and a few from Nagaland too. So you can’t blame the leaders in Delhi. I understand them since they have been nurturing each and everyone but, at the last moment, people leave the party,” he said.
