Editor,
Please allow me to share my opinion with you and your dear readers that I, usually, have keen interest in elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies of our country, Bharat. Having watched, observed and judged carefully the events that unfurled during the last five years, I have come to the conclusion that this round of elections, 2024, the BJP under Narendra Modi, will again bounce back to power for the third term, if not with landslide victory. This will happen despite scoring lesser seats from the southern states. Nothing will prevent him from becoming the Prime Minister for the third time unless prevented by some unfortunate events.
Coming to Meghalaya, in the 2-Tura Parliamentary Constituency my reading is that the NPP candidate has an easy edge over the rival candidates of TMC and INC because these two rivals cuts each other votes whereas in 2-Shillong Parliamentary Constituency the election scenario is very interesting to watch. The emergence of VPP, though a fledgling political party, may cut across the vote bank of all political parties and may cause havoc to the chances of candidates of many parties.
However, as can be judged from past records tell us that in a multi-cornered contest, the INC comes out victorious because its vote bank is quite sizable and it is not easily breakable. However, this time it is not so. There is heavy anti-incumbency against the sitting MP Vincent Pala. He has been given a chance to be MP for three consecutive terms and brought nothing for the benefits and development of his constituency. It was a total waste for Khasi-Jaintia Hills. He has been very ineffective in Lok Sabha and not vocal at all for the vital issues of our State or country.
Other MPs especially new brand MPs in other parts of India are simply dynamic and vocal and shook the Lok Sabha like a violent earthquake. Take Mahua Mitra for example and many north and south Indian MPs. What happened to our MP, Vincent Pala? Please, think hundred times dear fellow voters, including the so-called Christian religious leaders. Do not commit the same mistake again and again. There are others who are far better in many ways than Pala. Read the signs of time.
Philip Marweiñ
Senior Journalist,
Shillong-2.
