Battle For Meghalaya

Curtains up for 2018 election: Fight for survival, Congress charm amongst hill people and rise of saffron party.

- Saidul Khan

Election fever is high in Meghalaya, which goes for poll in February. Most political parties believe that Congress would be ousted and is all out to give a united fight to Dr Mukul Sangma government.

The state is set to witness a high voltage election that is eagerly awaited especially by the opponents - the BJP, National People’s Party (NPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP).

Indeed Meghalaya is gearing up for an interesting battle that would see a new era of politics with the rise of saffron and regional parties.

It will be a deciding factor for Congress, as it will test whether the hills and minorities still hold the party as its “own”. It will also decide whether the party founded by strongman of politics Purno Agitok Sangma’s NPP will be able to make considerable impact given the fact that anti-incumbency has created a sense of feeling that Congress has not been able to deliver.

The catch line of the saffron party for “change” will be accepted or not. The battle will give the clear result. The election would signal if the regional forces would survive the test of democracy.

Analysts are keeping their fingers crossed as saffron party, which has made its presence in Assam, Arunachal and Manipur are of the view that something similar may happen in Meghalaya.

Saffron Making its Presence Felt

BJP, so far, have not projected anyone as its CM candidate but believes that “Modi magic” would work in the hills. The boost for BJP can be gauged from the fact that in all the 60 constituencies people have joined their fold. This is the biggest achievement for the saffron, which is perceived as a “Hindu party”.