LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Will Mukul Sangma create history after Hoping Stone in 2018 Elections?

Date: October 23, 2017

To 

The Editor

TNT- the Northeast Today

Dear Editor,

After the declaration of our present CM Mukul Sangma that he is intending to contest from 2 seats in the upcoming 2018 elections, the decision takes me back to late bah Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, the longest-serving legislator from Meghalaya who passed away on September 26, 2015. Lyngdoh, who was the president of the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) till his death, had successfully contested from two Assembly seats – the erstwhile Parïong (now Mawthadraishan) and Nongstoiñ in the 1988 elections and he also won both the seats. Known as a "man of principle," Lyngdoh had never lost an election in his political life.

He was known as a "man of principle" for many reasons- he was one of the few stalwarts who had fought for creation of the hill state way back in the 1960s. A bachelor, he did not believe in acquiring property or accumulating wealth and gave away every penny he earned as an MLA to the poor and needy which was evident from the testimonies of people present on his funeral day.

There was a reason why Hoping stone is still remembered as one of those men whose works seem to tower his loss and that which makes him immortal. However, it is sad not to see the same kind of perception of people for the present CM Mukul Sangma. While the opposition parties do not fail to point out the malfunctioning of the Congress regime in the state under the leadership of Mukul Sangma, his declaration to contest from Ampatigiri – the constituency he represents since 1993 – and Songsak constituency in the 2018 Assembly polls has given wind to people's hopes as he is the second politician after bah Hoping to have taken such a decision.

After 29 years, it will be interesting to witness how the present CM will fare in 2018 assembly Elections- Will history repeat itself? Only 2018 will tell!

Yours faithfully

Shweta Raj Kanwar

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