SHILLONG:
An interactive session between the political parties and the teachers and students of Synod College, Shillong, on February 9, witnessed the discussion revolving around key issues like clean politics, education, health and the entry of businessmen into the corridor of power – the secretariat.
The programme was organised by the Department of Political Science (Undergraduate), Synod College, on the theme – Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Election 2023 and Political Parties’ Agenda: A public Interface at the college auditorium.
Representatives from different political parties — Trinamool Congress (TMC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Voice of the People Party (VPP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), United Democratic Party (UDP) and KAM.
The only party that was not present in the panel was the National People’s Party (NPP).
Political Parties’ agendas
Most of the agendas listed by the different political parties are more or less the same – from clean governance and reformation of the health and education departments to policies to boost tourism and tackle law and order among others.
HSPDP: P Ryntathiang said the party would bring about a policy to protect, preserve and rejuvenate the water bodies besides addressing the issues of clean governance, job reservation, recognition of the Khasi language, resolving the interstate boundary disputes, implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP), etc.
Congress: Party candidate from East Shillong Manuel Badwar spoke of starting community college; need to take advantage of technology for employment generation and the need to plug the revenue leakages.
UDP: Senior party leader Allantry Dkhar said the party would focus on promoting wellness centres, curbing drug abuse, improving the security packages of teachers, and streamlining the education system to make Shillong an education hub once again. Referring to the border MoU signed between Meghalaya and Assam, the UDP leader said, if voted to power, they would review the agreement, adding that it was signed hurriedly.
BJP: Party spokesperson Gregory F Shullai discarded all speculations of BJP having a hidden agenda. He spelt out the number of central schemes that have been implemented in the state. Stating that the BJP is yet to release its manifesto, Shullai said the party will walk the talk.
TMC: Party general secretary Prof Fabian Lyngdoh said TMC is a national party with regional ethos, that will be against any power that seeks to break India’s unity. Among the list of things to do include scrapping the border MoU, better administration in the health sector, uprooting the conservative forces and narrow-mindedness in the education sector and study the demand for implementation of ILP.
VPP: Party candidate from East Shillong Avner Pariat dwelt on a corruption-free Meghalaya with a government that is strong and decisive. Stressing on VPP’s tagline – clean politics, Pariat said, “Our leaders have walked the talk. Now that election is nearing, every political party talks about clean politics but we have seen what they have done in the past.” The objectives of VPP include — uplifting government schools, tackling bad practices of private schools and private hospitals, streamlining the health centre, etc.
PDF: Party leader Elizer Chyne said PDF vows to address the lacunae in different sectors. Some of these include — supporting and upgrading schools in rural areas to arrest the high drop-out rate, providing better healthcare services, including empowering the foot soldiers like ASHA and Anganwadi workers, formulating a robust tourism policy, constituting an Employment Generation Commission to tackle the problem of unemployment.
KAM: Candidate from North Shillong Rev Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh trained his guns on the political parties stating that, “Everyone speaks about clean governance, everyone cares about the women, children and daily wage earners now that election is near.” Targeting the BJP, he said, “We believe in constitutional values – something that many national parties like the BJP don’t believe in anymore.” Rev Pyrtuh also stressed the need to take back governance from the hands of a few who have managed to create an island for themselves while its surroundings suffer. Among the list of things to do, the KAM candidate said, if elected MLAs, they will push for a Healthcare bill, grievances redressal bill, Meghalaya reforms commission, Meghalaya affirmative action committee, welfare board for domestic workers among others.