Tura: The National People’s Party (NPP) has been at the forefront of politics in Meghalaya for the past five years, with the party doing exceptionally well in the 2018 elections in both the Garo Hills and the Khasi – Jaintia Hills regions in equal measure. Their success, surprising many, came amid a wave of popular support that came except the then Mukul Sangma-led Congress government.
However, this time, the situation looks a lot different for the Conrad Sangma-led party with internal party rebels and anti-incumbency as well as a prickly partnership with its allies and could become a gargantuan task for it to emerge as the single largest party and continue calling the shots in the post-election coalition formation. The pitch appears to have been queered by the strident waves of aggressive campaigns by TMC and other political adversaries.
So is this the end of NPP’s ‘Acche Din’?
From friend to foe
Before the 2018 elections, the NPP, even though it fought alone, had the backing of the BJP. This unwritten partnership helped it gain crucial votes in some closely-fought contests. It emerged as the second largest party in the state with 19 seats, just two behind the Congress, of the 59 seats contested. The number rose to 20 after NPP won the election for the Williamnagar seat, delayed due to one of the candidates being murdered by the GNLA.
Following the election, Conrad Sangma, then the Tura MP, became the leader of the ruling coalition that consisted of everyone except the Congress. The Congress, by this time, had been politically out-manoeuvred by BJP’s multi-party coalition, leaving the grand old party high and dry.
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However, the bonhomie among the allies seems to have dissipated, with the BJP itself now looking to make a bigger impact in terms of the legislators it sends to the Assembly in 2023.
Observers say that NPP will have a herculean task in fighting anti-incumbency. Whispers of corruption in high places are getting louder by the day. Unless NPP can counter them effectively it may turn out to be the party’s Achilles heels.
The party has grown in strength so much that it can put up candidates with a high chance of winning all 60 constituencies. While that may be a boon in many ways, it also can be a potential curse. The increase in influence means the party will now have to face challenges from those that it denies tickets. With elections not being an exact science in the least, these disgruntled members could make a huge difference in whether the party comes out in front or paves the way for its rivals.
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“Any party that rules the state is bound to be impacted by anti-incumbency. The NPP has not helped itself in a way by allowing others, including its coalition partners, to paint them as being corrupt. It has not helped that the party has remained silent in the face of such allegations,” felt a resident of Tura, AM Marak.
Not all doom and gloom
There are, however, some positives for the party. First, it has been able to attract quite a few senior leaders from across parties into its fold most of who are expected to do well in the coming elections. In Garo Hills, at least 2 AITC MLAs: Marthon J Sangma and Jimmy D Sangma have either joined the NPP or are most likely to do so in the coming days. Another major gain for the party has been in the form of former Meghalaya Speaker AT Mondal.
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Mondal joined the party in December 2022 and will be the front-runner for the Phulbari seat. Interestingly, he replaces the current NPP MLA, who has been denied a ticket from the party, SG Esmatur Mominin. Mominin is expected to fight the elections on a Trinamool ticket in what is looking to be a very close contest for the seat.
Earlier, it was seen that other parties waited on Congress before announcing their list of candidates as those rejected by the party became the first choice for other parties. With the Congress on the wane, this time the mantle has been handed over to the NPP with all eyes on it before others leap.
Another USP of the NPP-led government, which could help the party gather momentum, is the inauguration of the many C&RD Blocks and civil sub-divisions. These are expected to help bring the people closer to the administration.
The inauguration spree has led to there being two civil sub-divisions in just one constituency – Dadenggre. It now possesses the old Dadenggre Civil Sub Division and will also have the Jengjal chapter.
“There is no way you can write off the NPP over whatever allegations of corruption are being made against it. In most parts of the state, people vote for the person they feel will lead them forward and if there is a feeling that the party that the leader represents may have a shot at being part of the ruling government, it just becomes a bonus,” felt another resident.
Recently, the NPP has been in overdrive to project the positives. These include the 9,500-capacity PA Sangma Stadium in Tura, the various blocks and subdivisions and the release of money to beneficiaries under the various programmes (FOCUS, FOCUS+). The missing visibility seems to have been bridged for now in the face of an aggressive TMC campaign.
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However, it is sometimes hot and cold relationship with the BJP was brought to the forefront when the party accused it of hijacking central schemes to project as coming from the state with FOCUS and FOCUS+ being the main prickle.
The coming election will be one of the closest in terms of numbers despite the results of 2018. In 2018, the difference in winning margins was less than 1000 in 19 of the 59 seats contested. However, given the situation and low voter numbers, this time, elections could be much tighter this time.
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“We are extremely positive about being the largest party after the next election. There has been tremendous support for the party in Khasi Hills and Garo Hills, and these will definitely translate into votes. We will lead the next government as well,” felt an NPP party leader from Mendipathar on the condition of anonymity.
Several leaders of the region expressed the same feeling. However, the real test will begin once campaigning begins in full swing, possibly in the next two weeks.
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