Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s recent statement that MLA schemes are meant to benefit only those voters or supporters of a party or its candidate blows the gaff that most elected representatives would not openly declare.
His statement created a stir and received much flak from various quarters, especially the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), who, in a media statement, said Tynsong’s comment is evidence that the Rs 12.5 crore provided to each MLA in the state budget is used as a “freebie” by politicians for political benefits. KHNAM further stated that this is against the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
“Those who don’t support, I do not give… What to do? After winning the elections, the first to ask for schemes are those who do not support you. This is a scheme which we have to give to our supporters,” Tynsong had said at an election rally in Rangshken under Sohiong constituency recently.
The Deputy Chief Minister openly admitted in Pynursla, which he represents, that MLA schemes are distributed only to his supporters.
While MLA schemes are meant for development projects for the welfare of all the people in a constituency without discrimination, the public statement made by Tynsong is seen as perjury against the solemn oath he had taken when he was sworn in as an MLA and a Deputy CM of the state.
On March 7, 2023 Tynsong swore to “do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”
Yet as one of the electorate puts it, “After winning, they (MLAs) represent the whole constituency and the state. If he or she is a minister, they are not a party man but ministering the whole state.”
“If he speaks like this, does he mean that he is the representative of only 13,745 people who voted for him in Pynursla? In fact 21,021 people voted against him. He did not even get the confidence of half of his electorate. He is actually a minority MLA in his constituency and by actual right cannot claim to be a full representative,” another voter said.
Tynsong is not the only politician given to making such subtle threats, however. Ahead of the recent state elections, the then Mawshynrut MLA, Gigur Myrthong, was caught on video warning voters in a village of depriving them help in future if they are not in his “list”. He later doubled down and explained that “whoever works hard get benefits in life… if one wants to earn profit without hard work, who will give?” Myrthong would go on to lose the election, however.
