Laban legislator and BJP leader Thrang Hok Rangad was the first the sitting MLA to die on July 3 2003. Mr Rangad, who was also a former Home and Education Minister, passed away after a prolonged illness.

A year later, on September 22 2004, three legislators -- Cyprian Sangma, Ardhendu Chaudhuri and Heltone Marak -- were killed in a chopper crash in Ri-Bhoi district. The Pawan Hans helicopter carrying the three MLAs crashed at the hilltop of Kyrdemkulai, Ri-Bhoi, about 40 km from here at 1.25 pm. The air crash occurred when the MTC chopper was returning to Shillong from Tura, West Garo Hills via Guwahati.

Independent MLA from Garo Hills, Predickson G Momin also passed away on July 6 2006 after suffering from abdominal cancer for over two years.

An active GSU member since 1995, Late Momin made his foray into politics after winning the 2003 Assembly elections. He later joined Congress as an associate member and extended his support to the Congress-led MDA Government.

A year later, former Agriculture Minister and sitting UDP MLA Kyrmen Susngi died at Guwahati Neurological and Research Centre on September 7 2007. He was 51. He had suffered from cerebral aneurysm for two months.

Meanwhile, Baghmara legislator Sengran M Sangma died of cancer on February 16 last at the age of 47.

Interestingly, most of the MLAs died in July and September. Mr Rangad and Mr Momin died in July, while Mr Susngi, Mr Chauduri, Mr (Cyprian) Sangma and and Mr Marak passed away in September.

SHILLONG: Come March 3, Meghalaya will see a host of candidates having interesting names seek their electoral fortune. To mention a few of the lot are Comingone, Adolf Hitler, Admiral, Hopingstone, Hispreachering and Frankenstein.

While Adolf Lu Hitler R Marak, a former MLA from Rangsakona, West Garo Hills, will contest the polls on NCP ticket, another NCP candidate and sitting MLA Admiral Sangma will join the contest from Dalamgiri of the same district.

Mr Hitler has started an aggressive campaign to upset the applecart of Congress rival and sitting legislator Zenith Sangma, who had beaten the former in the 2003 elections.

Mr Comingone from Raliang constituency in Jaintia Hills, Tony Curtis from Malki-Nongthymai in East Khasi Hills, Stormding Thongni from Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills and Frankenstein Momin from Mendipathar are some other Congress candidates in the fray.

Sitting MLA and Congress nominee for Mawkhar constituency Friday Lyngdoh is expectedly having hectic days as he thinks every day is important for him. The numbers game will play a major role in deciding the fate of the winner from Mawkhar, the smallest constituency of the State, which has only 7762 voters.

HSPDP candidate Britainwar also has his task cut out against sitting Congress legislator Draison Kharshiing.

Senior HSPDP leader Hopingstone Lyngdoh is hopeful of defeating all other opponents in Nongstoin constituency, West Khasi Hills.

The party is confident that Bombersing Hynniewta would give a tough fight to NCP candidate PM Syiem in Mylliem constituency.

HSPDP wants to retain Pariong constituency through the charisma and service of Dr Adviser Pariong who will contest against sitting Congress MLA Irin Lyngdoh.

Former Congress member of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council will contest from Jowai constituency as NCP candidate.

While hardwork is the poll slogan of Laborious Manik, the NCP nominee for Jirang seat, Ri-Bhoi district, BJP's Oral Syngkli believes in war of words. Artist Ranee had fought the 2003 Assembly elections on UDP ticket from Jirang, but this time the party ticket has been given to former Chief Minister J Dringwell Rymbai.

Forward Lyngdoh Mawlong of NCP wants to be ahead in the campaign to win the Sohiong seat. UDP's Rain Augustine Lyngdoh, however, is going all out to dampen the "campaign spirit" of his opponents.

John Manner Marak (NCP) will take on Chamberline Marak (Congress) in Bajengdoba constituency, East Garo Hills, while Teilang Star Blah (Congress) seeks to shine in the fight in Dienglieng seat.

Congress candidate from Mairang seat, West Khasi Hills Boldness Nongum believes he has it to overcome the anti-incumbency factor and cross the electoral hurdle.

Sitting legislator D Plaslanding Iangjuh (UDP) will take on Rockfeller Rangdkhew (BJP) in his bid to retain the rocky Mawsynram seat in East Khasi Hills.

The aim of sitting legislator and UDP candidate Process T Sawkmie is to "go process by process" to face Congress rival Founder S Cajee, who believes Congress has a strong foundation in Mawlai constituency. Mr Process has accepted the challenge from Mr Founder with the conviction that victory can be achieved only through process-by-process campaign.

Sounder Cajee and Mr Founder are brothers. Mr Sounder, who had contested the last elections, is not in the fray this time.

Hispreachering Son Shylla will be in the fray as an independent from Nongkrem, as he was denied Congress ticket by MPCC chief Onward L Nongtdu.

BJP has put up Romeo Phira Rani with the hope that he would manage to win votes of young voters of Laitumkhrah constituency.

Working journalist Stafing Jove Langpen Pdahkasiej, who is going to fight the elections from Mawsynram constituency as an Independent, perhaps has the longest name among all the candidates who have filed their nominations.

Shillong: In the pre-Meghalaya days, Mawkhar was known as the cradle of the Khasi politics having produced a number of political stalwarts. Today, Mawkhar distinguishes itself for lesser reasons — it has the lowest number of voters in the entire State.

Mawkhar has five candidates in the fray vying against each other to bag the maximum number of votes out of the paltry 7,762 voters in the constituency this year as against around 12,000 voters five years ago.

Besides sitting Congress legislator Friday Lyngdoh, almost all candidates — prominent lawyer and former Nongshken legislator Ganold S Massar (UDP), former KSU leader Glenbert Khongwir (KHNAM) and W Laslarton Lyngdoh (BJP) — have completed their normal house-to-house canvassing while NCP aspirant Pradip G Jyrwa is yet to make any headstart.

With nine areas under its coverage, Mawkhar constituency also can be termed as the smallest in terms of size since it comprise small residential localities like Wahingdoh, Riatsamthiah, Umsohsun, Mawkhar, Mission Compound, Wahthapbru, some parts of Qualapatty, Police Bazar and Harijan Colony.

Poll observers reckon that the fight will be mainly restricted between the sitting MLA Friday Lyngdoh and Mr Massar.

The two rivals are active in the field to book the support of the voters. Although the sitting legislator appears to have an edge as of now, it will be too early to write off others. Even the KHNAM candidate also has a fair amount of support among the youth in the constituency.

Despite its size and low number of voters, Mawkhar constituency has a number of issues being focussed by both the electorate and the candidates. Development, unemployment, tenants' rights and utilisation of MLA Scheme are some of the agendas that people are talking in this election.

The question is : Is there an incumbency factor? Mr Lyngdoh is confident of being able to scrape through this time round and asserted that he has done enough for the development of the constituency through various schemes implemented by him during the last five years. However, his rivals contest his claim stating that the constituency is far from being developed besides failure to address the concerns of the local residents in the constituency.

Another issue that his opponents are trying to cash in is the "age factor" as, according to them, Mr Lyngdoh "is too old" and will not be able to work properly for the constituency as in his previous years.

This issue appears to have slightly (only slightly) tilted the balance in favour of his opponents with most voters being convinced that age and ill-health of Mr Lyngdoh no longer permit him to work further, despite his good track record of service to the constituency.

Congress supporters on the other hand, are mock at the UDP on the ground that its candidate Mr Massar, who was "rejected" twice in the past by voters of Nongshken constituency, is being propped up from an urban constituency like Mawkhar. According to them, Mr Massar besides having less social involvement in Mawkhar constituency, is only marginally better in terms of age than the Congress candidate.

The mood among the electorate is however different. According to some of them, there is none who is an obvious choice this time round. They also feel that in the present situation, voters will be less encouraged to go to the polling booth.

According to informed sources, a few leaders from the constituency have tried to impress on former legislator Roshan Warjri to contest the poll but she declined for personal reasons.

"We are not satisfied with any of the five candidates in the fray. But anyway, we will decide to throw our lot only at the last moment after very careful thinking" an elderly voter from Mission Compound said on condition of anonymity.

With five candidates in the fray from a small constituency like Mawkhar, the winnability factor depends mostly on the ability of a candidate to sway voters in bigger localities like Wahingdoh, Riatsamthiah and Umsohsun.

Further, it is pertinent to note that voters of Police Bazar and Harijan Colony are the deciding factor for a victory of any candidate in the constituency.

So far the strength of the BJP candidate in the constituency is unknown but if the party can penetrate into Police Bazar and Harijan Colony, which are pre-dominant non-tribal pockets, there is a possibility of a good fight by the saffron party.

Observers feel that low turn-out of voters in the election might spring a surprise in the constituency.

They also feel that a 50 per cent turn-out during voting day would ensure that a candidate securing just about 1500 votes can hope to sniff victory in this election.

According to BJP, Mrs Nongdhar has reportedly denied that she is a cancer patient. BPJ lambasted the MDC for deceiving the electorates of Laban.

BJP further demanded that all schemes implemented by the MDC should be made public.

According to police, several cases have been filed against the accused for his involvement in several petty crimes. Police said during interrogation the accused confessed that he had committed a similar crime at the same place on January 21 last for which an FIR was lodged. Later, he led the police to a place where he hid the stolen goods. ATM cards, mobile handsets, cheque books and pass books were recovered from the place.

The damage has been estimated at approximately Rs 2.50 lakh.

The cause of the fire is yet to be known.

Come March 3 and it's election time once again. By then, the mighty and the arrogant would have concluded their grovelling for votes. This breed of homosepiens and the political parties they belong to would have finished reminding us of a citizen's responsibility in free democratic India. We are reminded of the obligation to support our respective candidates and of the onus of coming out to vote on polling day. We are warned about squandering our franchise; of committing the cardinal democratic sin of wasting our valuable votes. Clan and kin connections are exploited to the core; old favours recalled and if required , unredeemable pledges recklessly given. The electorate are coaxed, cajoled, threatened, but most often than not, people are literally bribed to make their way to the ballot box, the Election Commission of India instructions notwithstanding. For the last 35 years and 7 general state elections later we find ourselves mechanically doing the same thing- all in the name of democracy. Actually elections in Meghalaya have little to do with a "government of the people, by the people and for the People" nor with the practice of good governance. Meghalaya elections are a form of spring madness where all of us frantically busy ourselves to ensure that 60 self-opinionated characters are assured jobs they have consistently proved they are unable to handle !

Its a fascinating period to live in however. In some cases hope is revived; in others, whatever little hope there is, gives its last gasp of breath and departs . For some perhaps it is a hopeful time for miracles when a lost virginity can be restored. Bollywood and Hollywood are notorious for the lurid confessions of what happens in and out of star studded bedrooms. Now these kiss and tell stories are no longer the sole prerogative of the silver screen stars. After sharing the same bed for more than five years, deshi political partners are now yelling deceit, treachery, guile, fraud, deception and trickery. Reading between the lines one is convinced that rape cannot be ruled out. The only trouble is determining who raped whom and amidst the tears of pain and regret , the promise not to return to the conjugal bed of the accused is conspicuously missing. Did I say fascinating? She-e-e-e-sh, its downright scandalous !

If a theme could be invented for these elections, it would be called 'change'. Everyone in the state is yearning for a change in the style and quality of governance. Strangely even those responsible for mal-governance are promising change. Whether it's a political ruse to "run with the hare and hunt with the hounds" or a genuine effort of the "leopard trying to change its spots", is yet to be determined. What is clear is that a politician's conception of change is entirely different from what you and I have in mind. Reliable sources speak of frantic attempts by sitting MLAs to obtain contractors willing to undertake the task of erasing names from all the useless brick-a-brac purchased through MLA schemes. The Election Commission has sharp eyes and for some professional con men, change simply means erasing the printed word.

But there is another sinister response to the public demand for change. The police claimed to have apprehended people trying to push in crores of counterfeit money into the state. Coincidentally it happened during election time and the possibility of our honourable, upright leaders abetting the crime cannot be ruled out. Actually, the whisper is that some very big fish are involved. These suspicions are further confirmed when the Police changed their stand overnight. Absolutely no politician involved they assert, no question at all. Expectedly, it had the entirely opposite effect and now everyone believes otherwise. What a wonky World we live in! So in Meghalaya , if you ask for a change you are likely to get short changed ! False election promises laced with fake ISI notes. What a way to win an election! A beautiful start for the next five years of governance! But it's the staple food of the state ever since its inception. We have lived when there were governments; we lived without governments (PR); and the miracle is, we continue to live despite the government. So, where's the problem, folks ?

Who said that there has been no change? A lot of changes have taken place in Meghalaya in the last 35 years. In the Jaintia Hills, the Kopili, the Myntdu, the Myngngot and the Lukha , have slowly changed to rivers of death. They are no longer capable of sustaining life! Sadly no one cares. Grain producing paddy fields (Halis) have turned fallow. What has happened to Meghalaya's backbone, the farmers who once tilled them, no one knows. Safe drinking water in the coal mining areas of Jaintia Hills is no longer available for most common folks but the rich have switched over to mineral water. Who gives a damn what the ordinary man drinks. In the meanwhile licences for limestone quarrying are being distributed like confetti. In the absence of a Mining Policy the surface of the mining areas in the state will soon challenge the lunar landscape. Poverty is on the rise and as the Indian economy grows by a phenomenal 8-9% growth rate, the per capita income in Meghalaya stagnates around 76/-. Ostensibly the MLA scheme has been changed into a poverty alleviation programme. The poor are encouraged to line up for health bills, for house rent, for education of their children, for their books for their clothes. It's not enough that our people are poor. They must be turned into beggars. Otherwise how does one establish a BPL votebank? These are changes Meghalaya can do without !

To state that Meghalaya and its people face tremendous challenges in bringing in positive change, will be the understatement of the year. To say that our leaders have the foggiest as to how to get us out of the mess they have got us into , will be the first truth told in 2008. Most politicians become MLAs without even knowing what they are expected to do, except in anticipation of promoting their self-interest. Do I hear a cry for libel ? In defence of my allegations let me narrate a small anecdote. Quite recently I had the chance to visit a very isolated, remote and backward constituency in one of the border districts of the state. The roads were bad; there was no electricity; no proper drinking water; agriculture was along the same primitive lines carried out by our forefathers a hundred years ago; education was almost non-existent and livelihood options were strictly limited. Poverty ruled and despair governed the landscape. Amid this desolation and misery the only sign of development was the recently constructed three storied mansion of the local MLA and the neat blacktopped road leading to it. Built with imported materials it even boasted of a Jacuzzi. Bad taste is too polite a word. It was an obscene display of corrupted power at its worst. Unfortunately similar stories prevail all over Meghalaya!

In the end let us be truthful with ourselves. The truth is, irrespective of the election results, the change that the public expects is not likely to happen. It is not likely to happen simply because for most of the MLAs who will be returned, the agenda of the electorate will not be their agenda. Their first priority will be to recover the investments that enabled them to win in the first place. Making money will a priority, ensuring good governance, definitely not . Meghalaya is in for another 5 years of pillage and plunder by its own leaders. But does it have to be that way? I believe Not. I believe we as a people can prevent it from happening. We are the masters of our own fate and the representatives we elect are servants of the people. It's a fact we forget or made to forget. As masters we have every right to call our servants to account. We have every right to monitor the activities of our representatives.

Public silence and apathy are the main reasons why our leaders fall so easily into temptation and then get away with murder. A public vigilance-cum-monitoring system to keep our politicians on the straight and narrow can be created. Of concern however is the silence of our ex- bureaucrats. Where is the academia and its ability to critique? Where is the voice of the Church and its responsibility for the oppressed and the poor? Where are all the good people? Why do we condone evil and corruption with our silence? Issue of good Governance is what ICARE will be initiating in the near future . So watch this space for future ICARE inputs. Please use the press and media as platforms to express your views on issues that you care about. It is the first step towards such a monitoring system. If in doubt, contact us at ICARE .

Is the honeymoon between the Congress and the BSP over? What has happened to the cosy relationship that developed between the two parties which joined hands to oust Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh from power last year?

After her resounding success in the U.P Assembly polls, BSP supremo Mayawati has begun to dream of becoming the Prime Minister. Accordingly, her present aim is to get the maximum number of seats in U.P besides winning a few seats in other states.

What has gone wrong? Until recently, the Congress was trying to cultivate Mayawati. However, of late, leaders of both the parties are indulging in public spats. While Mayawati has threatened to withdraw support to the UPA (knowing well that the UPA government can survive even without the support of her 19 M.Ps), the Congress has been aggressive in its criticism of her government, too.

The growing demand in Congress to take on Mayawati is not surprising. Maya’s ambition has made the Congress realise that if she is not contained in UP, she would damage the Congress elsewhere. Therefore, the Congress has drawn up an agitational programme to oppose Maya’s "anti-people" policies recently. The Congress has realised that if the party has to retain its space in the state and grow further, it has no other option.

Interestingly, both the parties have tried to make use of each other. Last year, there was bonhomie between the Congress and Mayawati, who extended much-needed help in the Presidential election. This ensured the victory of UPA’s Presidential candidate, Pratibha Patil. But as the year came to a close, Maya became suspicious of the warmth developing between the Congress and SP. That explains her mounting criticism of the UPA government. She feared that the Congress had used her and dumped her after the presidential polls. However, appearances are still being kept. Last month, Mayawati thanked the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi for greeting her on her birthday. Naturally, her ego was tickled. Though the Prime Minister was in China and in the midst of talks with the leaders there, he found time to greet her. These gestures indicate that both would like to keep their options open for the post-poll scenario.

The BSP-Congress ties have soured because of Maya’s moves to spread her wings across the country with an eye on next year’s Lok Sabha polls. Mayawati is trying to replicate the Uttar Pradesh formula elsewhere.

Although the BSP has failed to put up a good show, as it did in UP, it hurt the prospects of other parties, in particular the Congress. Though the Dalit-Brahmin combination may not reap the same benefits as it did in Uttar Pradesh, it definitely works as a dampener for other parties. U.P watchers are sure that the two parties cannot be together for the simple reason that the BSP cuts into Congress votes.

Maya’s social engineering formula, however, failed miserably in Gujarat. But the BSP acted as a spoiler for the Congress party. It hurt the Congress in as many as 18 seats in Gujarat and nine seats in Himachal . Encouraged by this success, Behenji is going ahead to checkmate the Congress in the coming assembly elections in other states as well.

The year 2008 did not begin well for Mayawati. The first bad news was the audacious attack on the CRPF camp at Rampur. Relations took a turn for the worse when Maya blamed the Centre for its failure to provide her with SPG cover. She even accused the Congress of trying to eliminate her. In retaliation, the Congress charged her with being too busy touring the country for party work instead of trying to tackle the law and order problem.

The Chief Minister had barely dealt with the Rampur incident when the Ballia by-elections gave her another jolt. The BSP's defeat in Ballia exposed the failure of the Dalit-Brahmin formula in UP. It led the BSP chief to sharpen her attack on Congress. Mayawati is also angry because certain Congress leaders out to eliminate her were allegedly "patronising" expelled BSP MP, Atiq Ahmed.

Then there is the disproportionate assets case. Maya feels that the UPA government is "deliberately delaying" a decision by the CBI on the case. While Mayawati argues that the income tax tribunal's clean chit on her gifts was good enough for closure of the case, Congress leaders feel that they should not do so in a hurry.

The BSP tends to hurt the Congress more than the BJP or any other party, mainly because nationwide, the Congress is the preferred party of Dalits. It receives the lion’s share of Dalit vote in all states, except Uttar Pradesh where Mayawati has replaced the Congress as the preferred party.

Earlier in 2004, the BSP undermined the Congress-NCP alliance in the Vidharbha region, where the combine lost 10 of the 11 seats—four of them on account of the BSP factor.

In the New Delhi municipal polls last year, the BSP polled an impressive 10% and won more than 15 wards.

In key states scheduled to go to polls this year, namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BSP has a sizeable presence and the potential to wreck the Congress’s prospects. Even in Karnataka, the BSP could ruin the Congress’s chances. That explains the love-hate relationship. Of courser, both the parties are keeping their options for a post–poll understanding open.(IPA Service)

Sir,

Meghalaya's political and cultural landscape is still under the shadow of "liberation struggle". The questions of changing the matriarchal society and the search for a good and able political leader to lead the state are still a far cry. With the election is round the corner, politicians are busy making promises, which will remain unfulfilled once they are elected. Meghalayans must never forget the state of affairs prevailing in the State. The people have witnessed how the elected representatives fight for the hot seat and how the so-called servants of the people neglect the State. Congress itself is divided into many fractions, each with its hidden agenda.

Not to exaggerate -- rummage through the pages of a local telephone directory and dial 10 people at random and ask them three simple questions (a) Are you disappointed with the Congress-led MDA government? (b) Do you think poor governance is the by-product of inner party bickering? (c) Do you want a new government under a new Chief Minister?

If you get even one 'nO' to any of these queries then assume that the chasm dividing the fractions has been bridged. Else, please do the needful to give Meghalaya a new government rather than orphan its voters to face the same incompetent and irresponsible team for the coming five years. People need not be political analysts to point at how the cancer has spread to cripple the whole system, and how this failure has given power to the people to speak out about a CM who doesn't trust his colleagues, about a party that doesn't trust its Chief Minister and about the people who don't trust its government.

This is the time when the people of Meghalaya should leave their vested interests aside and unitedly elect a responsible government to lead the state into an era of prosperity and progress.

Yours etc.,
Bivan Rodriques Mukhim
Via e-mail

Sir,

This is for the general information that the MLA Grant of Rs Three lakh shown to be sanctioned for construction of Community Hall of Jhalupara Cantonment in the book Tryst with Mawprem published by MLA 21 -Mawprem is misleading since the Council has not received any such fund.

Yours etc.,
R. Limbu,
Headman,
Jhalupara Village Council, Shillong.

Sir,

On the Republic Day this year, Doordarshan, which is the national television network of our country, committed a Himalayan blunder. It described and flashed the Wangala dance of the Garo people of Meghalaya on television as "Wangala Dance, Dimapur". Dimapur, ironically, is one of the three municipalities in the State of Nagaland, while Meghalaya is simply another State.

The country's oldest news channel, DD-1, cannot be excused for such serious lapses, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should ensure that they are not repeated. The rest of India possesses very poor knowledge of the culture and geography of the North-East, and in this age of information superhighways, the media cannot wash its hands off its responsibilities in cases of misreporting - as above.

Your etc.,
Omar Luther King
Delhi-34
Via e-mail

New Delhi: The President on Sunday lamented slow progress of North East, but hoped for nine per cent GDP growth in the region, while the Centre announced a High Court in each state of the region for speedy justice delivery system.

To begin with, the next High Court would be set up in Nagaland and separate High Courts in all northeastern states including one in Meghalaya will come up phasewise, Union Law Minister HR Bhardwaj said. Both the President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil and Mr Bhardwaj were speaking at a national conclave on "Access to Justice to Women of Northeast".

"Women are finding difficulty in getting justice. We have been making laws but they are not percolated to the grassroot level," the Minister said. The government was holding dialogue with village elders to bring the traditional justice system of the region to the mainstream, he said, adding, "some of our best judges have come from the North-East".

Supreme Court Judge Ashok Bhan said women's movement for justice is of utmost importance in the ongoing armed conflict situation prevalent in the North-East -- a hot topic in the conclave.

Although all the members of the communities are affected by the armed conflict, the impact on women and girls is far greater because of their status in our society and their gender, he said. Various NGOs and student bodies who are participating in the week-long conclave also echoed similar views.

Bringing the northeastern region closer and developing the region are an essential part of our national endeavour, Mrs Patil said. Geographical features have, for too long, acted as a constraint to the overall development of the region.

The states of the region are required to be made more accessible for the easy flow of not only commerce and trade but also of ideas and new technological developments, she said. Infrastructure development of road, rail, air and telecommunications would help realize the potential of the region and will provide better connectivity with rest of India, she said.

"With a high growth rate of about 9 per cent per annum I am sure that we will achieve this. However, as we move forward, we must always remember that our grievances must be resolved through constructive dialogue and in a democratic manner," she said. 

 Complementing the women of the region, the President said women of the North East are hard-working, run the household and enjoy better equality in society as compared to several other parts of the country. To help women realize their rights -- political and economic -- social institutions would have to work in tandem, she said.

Narayanan, who paid a two-day visit to Nagaland to review the security scenario ahead of the March 5 assembly election, said the Centre was ready to give broad concessions to the Nagas once this prerequisite was met.

"We can work out a new arrangement for the Naga people with maximum autonomy and freedom but this must be under the Indian union," Narayanan told the local English daily Morung Express.

Admitting the peace dialogue slowed down because of this factor, he said the foremost question that needed to be addressed was whether the basis of the current peace parleys was within the parameter of the Indian Constitution.

He said the NSCN-IM leadership was yet to give a clear reply to this question.

He said a sub-committee had been set up for this purpose but it had not yet arrived at any conclusion. The Constitution was flexible enough to accommodate broad concessions and this point had already been conveyed to NSCN-IM leadership.

Last year, both the Centre and NSCN-IM agreed in Bangkok to form expert committees to study the Constitution in the context of the charter of demands already submitted by the group during the prolonged course of peace talks.

NSCN-IM entered into a ceasefire with the Centre in 1997 and since then the truce was extended periodically and over 50 rounds of talks were held between the two sides. Last August, the truce was extended for an indefinite period subject to progress of peace talks.

Both the Centre and NSCN(I-M) had last year agreed in Bangkok to form expert committees on each side to study the Indian Constitution in the context of the charter of demands already submitted by the outfit during the prolonged course of peace talks.

NSCN(I-M) entered into a cease-fire with the Centre in 1997 and since then the truce was extended periodically and over 50 rounds of talks were held between the two sides. In August last year the cease-fire was extended for an indefinite period subject to progress of peace talks. (PTI)

"It is full of half-truths and unrealistic," he said at a press conference here at the Congress Bhavan on Sunday.

Dasmunshi, who joined the party's election campaign, dismissed the credits of the Left Front Government in Tripura that were proclaimed in the manifesto.

"Rail connectivity, Central university, enhancement of air service - all the good works were included in the 11th five year plan and the Left Front Government did not put pressure on the Central Government to achieve these," he said.

"Even the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) was included in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) - a road map for UPA government," he said referring to the CPI(M)'s big talk about bringing the act in the State.

The Congress may not be able to fulfill all promises that were mentioned in the manifesto, he said adding that the party would do its best to develop investment climate in the State.

In order to make Tripura an investment friendly destination, connectivity will have to be enhanced, he said adding that if Assam and Sikkim could become investment destination, why Tripura can't?

Referring to the CPI (M) allegation about the close relation between INPT and underground outfit, he said the party is decisively clear that the INPT is no longer a banned outfit.

"Chief Minister Manik Sarkar should lodged FIR against those who have relation with militants," he said.

Agartala: Altogether six candidates, including Congress leader Sudhir Ranjan Majumder and INPT general secretary Rabindra Debbarma, with pending criminal cases, were in the fray for the Tripura Assembly elections on February 23.

The Tripura Election Watch (TEW), a non-partisan civil society effort at creating accountable and transparent governance in the State, on Sunday released the analysis of the affidavits filed by the contestants here, which revealed that seven Congress candidates had declared assets worth more than Rs one crore.

The report said Majumder, also former Tripura Chief Minister, was charged of criminal conspiracy, cheating and dishonesty, and forgery, while Debbarma was charged with rape.

Besides, four Independents were charged with crimes, including murder, criminal intimidation and violation of the Wildlife Protection Act.

TEW coordinator Pawan Rana told UNI here on Sunday that following the Supreme Court judgments of May two, 2002 and March 13, 2003, disclosure of criminal records, financial and educational information had become mandatory to empower the voters and civil society to actively participate in improving the quality of polity and governance in the country.

He said the main objective of the TEW was to raise voter awareness based on information collected from affidavits to enable them to make an informed choice before casting their votes and in particular, the entire effort was directed to ensure that the political parties put up public service oriented, capable and honest candidates.

Rana said the study revealed that only 16 candidates had mentioned their PAN, which included seven from Congress, five from CPM and one each from BJP, CPI (ML), RSP and one Independent and rest 297 (95 per cent) of the candidates either did not have PAN or were reluctant to mention it in their affidavits.

Among the major political parties, average declared assets of Congress candidates were worth Rs 85.72 Lakh, CPM Rs 16.67 lakh and BJP Rs 7.17 Lakh. Five candidates, including two from the CPM, had declared liabilities more than Rs 10 lakh, the report stated.

Women had been given 10 per cent representation (31 candidates), significant in comparison to the national scenario and in comparison with other states (where it hardly touched 7-8 per cent), Rana said, adding that amongst the national parties, the Congress, BJP and CPM had fielded 10.42, 10.20 and 8.77 per cent women candidates respectively. Amongst State parties, the LJP had fielded 25 and the AITC 23.81 per cent women candidates respectively.

The party-wise break-up with the stand by candidates are Congress — 95, NPF — 70, BJP — 24, RJD — 27, NCP — 8, three each from JD (U) and LJP , two each from United Naga Democrtic Party (UNDP), Rastriya Lokdal (RLP) and JD(S), one from Adarsh Political Party and 38 independents.

Kohima and Dimapur districts, seven and five assembly constituencies respectively, saw 29 and 21 nominations. Tuensang district, with seven Assembly constituencies, got highest number of 47 nominations, followed by Mon, nine constituencies, at 46.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers will be taken up on Monday. (UNI)

Kohima: Many new faces from professional backgrounds and youth are trying their electoral fortunes in the March 5 Assembly election in Nagaland.

Representing the entire spectrum of political outfits as well as independent candidates, these fresh contenders are even going out of party line of thinking and are speaking about change in Naga society, while many have chosen youth empowerment as a favoured issue to woo voters.

If there are over half a dozen medical practitioners, then an equal number of technocrats are in the fray.

Many civil servants, before reaching superannuation, and young Naga entrepreneurs are also contesting the elections.

Nagas with legal professional background are not new, and this election is no exception.

Although their perceptions and perspectives differ on issues confronting society, they are all comfortable with laptops and denim, media savvy, like to speak about change, and have equal concern for the growing unemployment problem.

Five former presidents of Naga Students Federation (NSF), a premier students body, NSN Lotha (Independent), Achumbeo Kikon (LJP), Neiba Krono (NPF) and Vikiho Sumi (NPF), Hokhet Shikhu (RJD) are facing the electorate in multi-corner contests in Tuyi (Wokha), Bhandari (Wokha), Pfutsero (Phek), Pughobot and Surohoto assembly segments respectively.

TN Mannen, the former Additional Chief Secretary before his superannuation, joined RJD and is pitted against Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) secretary Akang Ao at Impur seat in Mokokchung district. Both of them are from the same village.

In the prestigious Kohima town seat, bureaucrat turned politician Z Obed of Congress is facing NPF candidate Dr Nieki Kire, a new entrant. (PTI)

The reaction of China amounted to an interference in the internal matter of a sovereign nation, the party said in a release. Such posture of China was a fall-out of the Centre's soft stand on the entire issue, it said, adding that the party would organise a 'March to Parliament' programme during the budget session in protest against such stand of the ruling party.

The 'Parliament Chalo -- Arunachal Bachao' agitation would be organised in the last part of the budget session, it said. (PTI)

Superintendent of Police (Bishenpur) K Jayanta said a team of police commandos, attached to the district police, rushed to Wantherok village under Moirang police station in the district following reports that some militants were in the area. As the commandos approached the spot, they were fired upon by the militants, he said in a statement. The commandos returned the fire and the exchange lasted for about 30 minutes and an underground camp was busted.

Two cadres of KNF-MC were arrested but over 18 militants escaped during the encounter into the nearby thick jungles. Police seized from their hideout four guns, four bombs, medicines, blankets, two hurricane lanterns, several water bottles, photographs and documents, he added. (PTI)

Guwahati: The Assam Police has alleged that arrested rights activist Lachit Bordoloi was a top ULFA leader and involved in extorting money for the outfit.

In a forwarding report to the court of the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate Robin Phukan, where Bordoloi and three others were produced today, the police alleged he was a top ULFA leader and collected money in the name of the outfit.

The report claimed that two e-mail addresses were found belonging to Bordoloi to which messages were sent by various "national and international terrorist organisations".

The Kamrup CJM extended by further two days, the police custody for Bordoloi, while Air Deccan employee Suman Dutta, rights activist Khagen Talukdar and journalist Pradip Gogoi were remanded to judicial custody.

Bordoloi was arrested on February 11 in connection with the ULFA plan to hijack an aircraft and later remanded to five days police custody. (PTI)

Police said the assailants shot dead the two youth and dumped their bodies near Debarai village under Haflong police station. The bodies were found later.

The youth have been identified as Utpal Chakraborty and Ronji Hojai.

Police have started investigation to find out the motive behind the crime and track down the culprits. (PTI)