After running a coalition government for nearly three years, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma says in a chat with Sushanta Talukdar that single-party rule is the antidote to the chronic political instability Meghalaya has faced in the past.
How do you look at the coalition politics in Meghalaya and its impact on development?
There is a lot of compromise one has to make in coalition politics.
There are lots of pulls and pushes, which are not people-centric and which are not designed to address the core issues of the State.
Therefore it is important that every government, whenever it is formed, has a clear cut majority to have a single-party government to be effective.
Your own coalition partner UDP has made corruption a major poll plank. Are you worried by such a campaign?
The priority is to address the issue of responsive, effective and accountable governance.
And to ensure that we have to come out with a Lokayukta bill repealing the earlier one which did not put the Chief Minister under its purview. We have promised a Social Audit Act that would address local corruption.
Will the National People’s Party of Purno Agitok Sangma affect Congress?
It will not. I think he [Purno Sangma] has confused his own people more than confusing anybody else.
Will you forge a post-poll alliance with other parties in case your party falls short of a majority?
Ultimately we have to ensure that we respect the mandate of the people and attend to our responsibilities as responsible leaders.
