The first casualty of the new Anti-defection Law specter befalls in Arunachal Pradesh soon after Chief Minister Geogong Apang exercises his downsizing jugglery. About half of his legislators have switched over their loyalty to the Opposition Congress overnight and the Chief Minister, as a precautionary measure to prevent further erosion to his BJP Ministry, took a sweep action by recommending dissolution of the State assembly to State Governor, who, in turn, accepted it. The present tenure of the Assembly expires in September this year.

In Nagaland, 20 sitting Cabinet Ministers and 2 Ministers of State have failed to get retained in the downsized race. The present Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Government was formally constituted on the basis of the Common Minimum Program (CMP) that was drawn up prior to the last Assembly election. Notably, the Convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), George Fernandez, personally came to release the CMP booklet in a mammoth election rally held in Kohima local ground. Present Arunachal Pradesh CM Geogong Apang and NTC leader PA Sangma were among others who spoke on the occasion. The DAN has the composition of NPF, BJP, SP, JD (U) and NCP (now NTC).

The presence of these national political figures in the election rally has virtually boosted the morale of then fledgling DAN components that had one line agenda that is to defeat Congress. The emergence of coming together of non-Congress political parties and other like-minded parties under the banner of DAN with the blessings of the NDA Government at that point of time was political expedient. As a result of it, the Congress in the State was easily dethroned.

Soon after the downsizing process was over in Nagaland, people in Tuensang district headquarters took to the street protesting against the non-inclusion of their sitting Minister in the downsized ministry. JD (U), which is part of the DAN conglomeration, also didn't find a place in the present arrangement. The President of the party, Huska Sumi has condemned the manner in which the DAN Chief Minister had chosen his erstwhile "Congress cronies." He even went to the extent of charging Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Finance Minister K Therie, both are former Congress Ministers in the erstwhile Congress regime under SC Jamir, of endorsing the controversial booklet -- Bedrock of Naga Society. The President has thought the action as a non sequitur and questioned the validity of having a coalition Government if they are not included in the downsized Ministry.

Unfortunately, after the downsizing of Ministry, some leaders in Manipur too raked up some issues, which are totally irrelevant. The State like Manipur where everything is so sensitive and one can easily whip up communal passion, such exercise of downsizing the Ministry would make things easily vulnerable. Every State has its peculiar problems. The problem of Nagaland is totally different than that of Manipur, so also Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, etc. Therefore, leaderships in the Governments should cautiously tread in dealing with such complicated Act by examining the situation on the ground.

The Chief Ministers of the northeastern States have, however, taken damage control measures by accommodating those who failed to get retained in their downsized Ministries to various PSUs, most of which, especially in Nagaland and Manipur, are sick. Therefore, this is God-given opportunity as these non-profit making sick PSUs can now be revived with the appointment of legislators as Chairmen, etc. and they can prove their mettle to this new venture.

As Nagaland Governor Shyamall Datta said the other day in a farewell dinner party hosted in favor of the Governor-designate SC Jamir at Hotel Japfu that no political leader could please all the people, some MLAs in the ruling party will certainly remain as they are and even not sure to get anything throughout their remaining tenure. But in true sense of term, they can also play an important role to uplift the downtrodden people in the State particularly in their respective areas. They can collectively fight to enhance MLA local area development funds which can be utilized judiciously for the development of their respective areas.

The general concept that whoever elected should be made a minister should be given up. This has given a wrong impression in the minds of the general public.

Huge public money was involved in maintaining Ministerial juggernauts and the present Anti-defection Law will certainly reduce this extravagant expenditure and save the exchequer which can be utilized for some other projects in their respective States where there are hardly any internal resources to be generated. But the new Act will not do away corruption system; rather it will shoot up because heavy concentration will be there in few Ministers who would be heroes in the eyes of the public.

The Chief Ministers should form a "monitoring committee" in their respective States to oversee the functioning of his Ministers in such a way that they should be immediately replaced if they are found ineffective or engaged in any kind of corrupt practices. In this way, they can stop corruption. There should not be hocus-pocus in running the affairs of the State. It is a costly affair.

However, in the long run, the mad rush by ticket seekers at the time of election would dramatically reduce as there will be less scope for those elected in maneuvering to get ministerial births. There will be tough fight to get the job. Quality and merit will be the epicenter in running the affairs of the States and certainly, genuine democracy will be restored and people will be the ultimate beneficiaries to this. Let us espouse the new Anti-defection Law.