Shillong: With not up to a month to move for the meeting election, an exasperated sense of deja vu has hit the people of Meghalaya. In a state that has voted Congress to energy six times, BJP is hoping to make 'jingkylla', or exchange, a buzzword, but it is but to catch on.
"It's quieter here this time," said Manzu, a taxi motive force, similarly ok with English and Hindi. Work takes him around the serpentine roads of the state continuously. In this election, the 32-year-old feels, all roads lead nowhere. "In 2013, all you could hear was election talk. This time, everyone is tired. Which government comes to power doesn't matter because nothing ever changes," he added.
The Congress-led government has been in energy here for eight years now. The feeling of stagnation seems especially sturdy among young voters. "All candidates are good before the election. After being voted to power, they forget our concerns," said young graduate Permon Nongrom, handing out pamphlets for a finance company in the bustling Police Bazaar square. The 23-year-old graduated from Shillong Commerce College remaining yr but has failed to search out promising task opportunities here. "I was in Kolkata for a job interview. They asked why I went there, all the way from Shillong. There are no jobs here. What do we do?" she added. But the unemployment fee in Meghalaya, at 48 in keeping with 1000, is less than the nationwide average of 50. "The quality of employment opportunities is poor. There are no multi-national companies, few government jobs and very limited avenues," Permon explains.
Even the few who're keen to position their bets on one celebration or the other don't seem to be too hopeful. "Everyone disappears after election," said 46-year-old Ashikur Rahman, adding that the Congress rule has been non violent but little progress has been made. His family, which has been here since 1930, runs a restaurant on Thana Road here that advertises pork pieces at the signboard. Could that change if there's a new government? "BJP can't do anything about the sale of meat in Meghalaya. It is part of the culinary tradition of more than one community here," Rahman said. "Regional parties will call the shots this time," he is confident.
Many feel it's going to be a detailed name. "Things will definitely be shaken up. It could even go half-and-half for Congress and BJP," 57-year-old Sanjay Chakraborty says, taking a look up from the teer counter he mans. "Right now, there are no jobs and no representation for non-tribals. Owning businesses will get easier under BJP," added Chakraborty, a Bengali whose family got here here in 1956. BJP may just now not win any of the 13 seats it contested remaining time. The wary optimism, this time, revolves around the celebration's fortunes at the Centre and in different states. "Under Modiji, the country has made some progress. Things in Meghalaya could also improve under BJP," Chakraborty said.
"It's quieter here this time," said Manzu, a taxi motive force, similarly ok with English and Hindi. Work takes him around the serpentine roads of the state continuously. In this election, the 32-year-old feels, all roads lead nowhere. "In 2013, all you could hear was election talk. This time, everyone is tired. Which government comes to power doesn't matter because nothing ever changes," he added.
The Congress-led government has been in energy here for eight years now. The feeling of stagnation seems especially sturdy among young voters. "All candidates are good before the election. After being voted to power, they forget our concerns," said young graduate Permon Nongrom, handing out pamphlets for a finance company in the bustling Police Bazaar square. The 23-year-old graduated from Shillong Commerce College remaining yr but has failed to search out promising task opportunities here. "I was in Kolkata for a job interview. They asked why I went there, all the way from Shillong. There are no jobs here. What do we do?" she added. But the unemployment fee in Meghalaya, at 48 in keeping with 1000, is less than the nationwide average of 50. "The quality of employment opportunities is poor. There are no multi-national companies, few government jobs and very limited avenues," Permon explains.
Even the few who're keen to position their bets on one celebration or the other don't seem to be too hopeful. "Everyone disappears after election," said 46-year-old Ashikur Rahman, adding that the Congress rule has been non violent but little progress has been made. His family, which has been here since 1930, runs a restaurant on Thana Road here that advertises pork pieces at the signboard. Could that change if there's a new government? "BJP can't do anything about the sale of meat in Meghalaya. It is part of the culinary tradition of more than one community here," Rahman said. "Regional parties will call the shots this time," he is confident.
Many feel it's going to be a detailed name. "Things will definitely be shaken up. It could even go half-and-half for Congress and BJP," 57-year-old Sanjay Chakraborty says, taking a look up from the teer counter he mans. "Right now, there are no jobs and no representation for non-tribals. Owning businesses will get easier under BJP," added Chakraborty, a Bengali whose family got here here in 1956. BJP may just now not win any of the 13 seats it contested remaining time. The wary optimism, this time, revolves around the celebration's fortunes at the Centre and in different states. "Under Modiji, the country has made some progress. Things in Meghalaya could also improve under BJP," Chakraborty said.
Between BJP’s ‘vikaas’ and Cong’s ‘inclusiveness’, Meghalaya sees more of the same
![Between BJP’s ‘vikaas’ and Cong’s ‘inclusiveness’, Meghalaya sees more of the same]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
January 31, 2018
Rating:
