Will the UPA government smile North East?

G S Oinam *

In the 15th Lok Sabha, majority of the people voted for congress looking for a government capable of carrying out changes in the field of development, communal harmony, security and secular outlook. Congress won 7 seats in Assam plus 1 ally of AUDF out of 14 seats, Arunachal 2 congress, Manipur 2 congress, Mizoram 1 congress, Meghalaya 1 congress and 1 NCP, and UPA government was supported by 1 SDF MP of Sikkim, 1 NPF MP of Nagaland. Out of total 25 Lok Sabha seats in North east, 17 MPs are in UPA allies.

People of North east are expected much more from the Dr. Manmohan led UPA government. The importance of a strong national political party at the center for a stable government, secularism, economic growth, communal harmony and development was the issue and mandate of 15th Lok Sabha election.

Unfortunately, in the first week of UPA government, people of North east have disappointed and irritated on his cabinet berth distribution drama. North East has got only 1 cabinet and 3 MoS out of 17 MPs. 1 cabinet and 1 MoS to Assam , and 2 MoS to Meghalaya.

Do you think it is justified?

Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram , Sikkim , Nagaland have no share at all. North east was expecting at least 2 cabinets and 4 MoS with a view to the good performance in the election result and UPA seat sharing formula. Delhi got 1 Cabinet, 1Mos (independent charge) and 1 Mos out of 7 congress MP.

Most of the UPA cabinet goes to Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal , Karnataka and many Punjabi faces are seen in Dr.Manmohan cabinet. Hard bargainers are the gainer.

Losers are the loyalist to party leader. Ugly scenes of family politics, dynasty politics were witness during cabinet berth distribution drama. There is no room for congress loyalist like Han Raj Bhardwaj, former law minister. Sikkim chief Minister P.K. Chamling's voice of justice was never heard.

In 33 years, no Sikkimese has been made Union Minister. Manipur was expected one cabinet or at least one Mos with a view to the performance of election result and deserving elected representative. However, Dr. T. Meinya MP from Manipur missed the berth at the last minute changes. UPA supreme leaders were promising for cast, regional balances and small state interest.

Yes, they did consider for Jats, Dalits etc of North Indian. They did consider for small states/Union territory like Chandigarh , Puducherry, Delhi , Himachal Pradesh etc. Congress has given maximum cabinet berths to please their allies like DMK, TMC and NCP. North east region, Haryana and Utter Pradesh are the most neglected by the new UPA.

Smt. Sonia Gandhi was known for her justice. But we don't know what happen this time, perhaps a strategy for the coming election in Maharashtra or by condition to form the government at earliest?

Regional politics/political party will remain existence until favoring regional political party by national party. Therefore, the question of North eastern regional political party or united north east states local political parties' alliance has come into existence for hard bargaining in the development process and the policy making of union government unless national political party could not deliver justice to North east.

Had the North east people done wrong voting for congress? One question mark arises just in one week period of UPA government. But our people do not know politics. North east people like development and justice. We expected very much from Dr. Manmohan Singh government. People are waiting Dr Manmohan's 100 days action plan to translate into action.

Our people can waits for 200 days more if UPA is in difficult to translate promises into action. People hope that US President Mr. Barack Obama's 100 days sense of hummer speech ( In 100 days I will build a library and the next 100 days ....) will not be translate in North east by the UPA government at the centre. Manipur Chief Minister Shri O.Ibobi Singh had categorically expressed the doubtfulness of Congress position in the coming Assembly election unless development projects/works are delivered in right time in the state.

Congress ruled Assam is also facing the same difficulties. To please Meghalaya, Congress may lose Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in the coming Assembly election. Now, UPA will realize how one small mistake of a leader had caused a great damage in the coming assembly election in the North East. This is not only a question of Ministerial berth but a question of justice and humiliate of congress voters in the NE region.

People do hope that UPA will act promptly otherwise Congress leaders at the centre will very hard to win the heart of the people twice in the coming Assembly election. We wish all the best of the new UPA government!