SHILLONG, JULY 18: Two cabinet ministers – James K Sangma and Sniawbhalang Dhar – of the ruling National People’s Party and two MLAs of the Opposition All India Trinamool Congress Party in Meghalaya on Monday gave a miss to the Presidential election.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Frederick Kharkongor told reporters that the presidential election concluded with the participation of 56 MLAs out of 60 and the lone Rajya Sabha member WR Kharlukhi.
Official sources informed that James is in the UK while Sniawbhalang Dhar just got discharged from the hospital due to a spinal injury.
AITC legislator Marthon Sangma could not make it for the polls as he tested positive for Covid-19. However, there was no communication from his party colleague, Shitlang Pale on the reason for his absence.
Former Rajya Sabha MP and Advisor to the Chief Minister Thomas A Sangma casted the first vote while Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement MLA Adelbert Nongrum casted the last vote of the day.
While the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) termed the occasion as important not only for the tribal people but for women as well with Draupadi Murmu all set to be the first tribal woman to be elected as president of the country, the opposition referred to persecution and atrocities against different groups and asked the BJP to start practicing what it preached.
After casted his vote, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said if Murmu is elected to the post of president, there will be a huge impact on certain issues concerning the tribal people.
“That is what all of us expected and we know this is going to happen but saying that everything will disappear is something we cannot say or conclude but I am sure it will have a huge impact on the entire situation and scenario not just about the atrocities but overall,” he said.
On NGOs demanding legislators to vote on conditions that issues including ILP are given their due importance, Conrad said, “I have maintained very clearly that the state government has done what it could, the legislature has done what it could in terms of passing the resolution and putting it forward and now the ball is in the court of the Centre government and we will continue to engage with the Centre and see how we take it to its logical conclusion.”
Recalling his father (L) Purno A Sangma dream of seeing a tribal becoming president of the country, the chief minister, “Today we are in that direction as I said one cannot say as results are out. The day is not only important for the tribal people but for the women also.”
On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma asked the people of the state not to be misguided by the rhetoric of BJP as what they say they don’t do while referring to its decision to field a tribal woman as presidential candidate.
Referring to instances which have drawn the attention of the nation, Mukul said everybody has expressed their concern pertaining to persecution of certain people belonging to certain communities from a religious perspective.
“This is a concern as a nation and this must be addressed. Therefore, the message should be loud and clear and practice what you preach. But in as far as this development which has unfolded in the preceding years is a concern. You will agree with me that what is being preached is not being practice…That is why I am saying practice what you preach. This message is to the BJP and this is a message to all the people who are claiming this (tribal card) as a parameter to get the support for the candidate. Let us be blunt and clear,” he said.
He said that the new president is expected to respond to the call of duty based on the expected lines and in sync with the Constitution of India so “let’s wait and watch”.
Leaders of other political parties – United Democratic Party president and Speaker of the Assembly Metbah Lyngdoh, People’s Democratic Front president Banteidor Lyngdoh, BJP Minister Sanbor Shullai, Hill State People’s Democratic Party Minister Renikton Tongkhar also voted.
Backed by the BJP, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance led by the NPP has the regional parties as coalition partners and all are voting in favour of the BJP candidate.
Five suspended Congress MLAs also casted their votes and all in favour of Draupadi.
“I voted in favour of Draupadi and I am proud of her achievement, a record of sorts for tribals in the country,” former minister who was suspended by the Congress, Ampareen Lyngdoh said.
She said all her other 4 colleagues also voted in favour of Draupadi.
Of the 12 All India Trinamool Congress MLAs, 10 turned up to cast their votes and it was not clear if all of them would vote in favour of the party candidate.
AITC MLA HM Shangpliang had attended Draupadi’s campaign meet in the outskirts of the city when she visited the state on July 6.
The lone Rajya Sabha MP Dr WR Kharlukhi also casted his vote and said that once the results are out and once Draupadi Murmu is elected as president, (L) Purno A Sangma’s dream to have tribal president will be fulfilled.
He said all the issues concerning the state have been taken during Murmu’s recent visit to the state and that she had accordingly noted them down.
HSPDP leader and cabinet minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said he expects the new president to uphold the Constitution of India and to respect the tribal people and their issues.
AITC legislator from Rangsakona Zenith M Sangma said the election is not a question of tribal or not tribal but it is a fight between two ideologies.
“While one is fighting to protect the spirit and values of the provisions of the Constitution, the other is we have seen practically what is happening in the whole country which violated the provisions of the Constitution,” he said.
Zenith said elected governments are brought down by the might of the party in power at the centre which is against the spirit of democracy.
“Therefore, my conscience says that to fight against all these communal forces I should vote for the group of parties which stand to fight against communalism, which will ultimately pave the way to safeguard the spirit and values of the Constitution of India,” he stated.
By Our Reporter
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