Kohima/Agartala, Feb 21: The on-going elections in northeastern states among other things are also
playing crucial role in deciding about the future of Congress party - which
once had a commanding position in the entire region.
But the going has been more than tough for the grand old
party, which is struggling hard to retain power in Meghalaya, and which has
simply failed to put up a befitting fight in Nagalanad and Tripura.
"In the case of Nagaland, it is largely a case of missed
opportunity. The Congress unit simply lacked the fighting instinct. Between
2016 and 2017, the regional NPF-led coalition government changed Chief
Ministers thrice. The BJP was part of the coalition. In fact, the NPF split
even at organisational level and yet Congress could not take the
advantage," says Peang Kithan, a former Congress man from Wokha remote
district.
In February 27 elections, the Congress fielded only 19
candidates in the 60-member House.
The pradesh Congress tried to justify this by issuing a
statement and said: "The decision is aimed at stopping the BJP and its
alliance partner from compromising the rights of our people and our way of
life".
The Congress party also issued a statement saying it has
directed its rank and file to back "secular party candidates to save the
people from sinking in the "Hindutva quicksand".
However, this was hardly convincing as most if not all BJP
candidates are Naga Christians only. BJP is contesting on 20 seats in alliance
with a newly floated NDPP but Congress – which was a dominant force – is
friendless.
In 2013, the Congress tally in 60-member House was eight and
at later stage all the members had quit the party. "The Congress-free state legislative assembly
came in Nagaland," remarks Bishnu Bhattacharjee, NPF Minority Wing leader.
However, the blame game has started and a section of party
leaders have heaped all blames on AICC in-charge north east, C P Joshi. The
general refrain was about "high command not providing adequate funds".
Bringing down the number of candidates actually show the
"existential crisis" as hardly there was clamour for tickets.
Local workers also blame state unit president K Therie for
running an "one-man show" and has unable to carry a team along with
him.
The Congress showing lack of enthusiasm in fighting it out
has also opened rooms for other parties to try establish their toehold. Even
JD(U) is seeking to grow and so is Conrad Sangma’s NPP.
The Congress really faces – do or die situation in Nagaland
where it lost power in 2003 after 10 years of continued rule from 1993.
Similar to Nagaland, the prospect of Congress revival in
Tripura also looked remote as the grand old party is generally taken as a ‘B
Team’ of CPI(M) and has been lacking in confidence and perhaps the 'will' to
fight the Leftists.
The general refrain among Congress leaders and even Congress
supporters is – the Congress High Command has let down the Tripura unit as the
party did not show enough interests to fight the communists.
"No amount of ground work and fight by footsoldiers in
the state can help revive the party if the central leaders do not give their
best," says a Congress leader in Agartala. The general complaint among
Congress leaders and also those who quit Congress to join BJP is: Manmohan
Singh, Sonia Gandhi did not come to campaign for the party candidates in 2013
despite assurances given to the state leaders.
"For the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh even the
stage was set up in Ambasa in Dhalai district but he did not come," says
Manoj Kanti Deb, a former Congress legislator and now BJP candidate from
Kamalpur.
The result of such frustrating situation was that the
Congress leaders – rank and file - shifted to the BJP in 2016 and 2017 and thus
helped saffron party turn into a fighting force in Tripura.
Tapash Dey, senior Congress leader in Tripura, denies the
high command has "neglected" the state unit. In fact, he blames the
former state unit leadership like Sudip Roy Barman for letting down the party.
"It will be erroneous to say Congress can be written off
in Tripura. We remain the chief anti-Left party in Tripura," he said
trying to dismiss BJP emerging as a major force in the state.
In the given situations in poll-bound states, Meghalaya is
the only state where Congress is in strong position and can retain power - as a
saving grace to the legacy of the grand old party.
Mukul Sangma has served as Chief Minister for quite some time
but is facing anti incumbency mood and also 'corruption charges'.
However, the local Congress workers protest the manner in the
February 27 elections, Mukul Sangma has pushed his family members and relatives into the
electoral contests.
In the Garo Hills, Mr Sangma's native region, even a few
Church leaders disapprove the manner he has tried to promote his relatives and
associates in six constituencies.
"Actually Mukul is building up a mini camp of relatives
and personal loyalists," says NPP leader Vinita Sangma.
The Chief Minister is himself contesting from two assembly
segments Ampati and Songsak. His wife and sitting MLA Dikkanchi D Shira is seeking re-election from
Mahendraganj.
Chief Minister's brother and Excise Minister Zenith Sangma
has been fielded from Rangsakona. Zenith's wife Sadhiarani Sangma is Congress nominee from Gambegre.
Limison D Sangma, a known Chief Minister loyalist, has been
fielded from Raksamgre while another loyalist Jimmy D Sangma will be contesting on Congress ticket from
Tikrikala.
Similarly, Mukul has allegedly ensured that his loyalist
Clement Marak is also Congress candidate from Selsela. UNI
