SHILLONG, Jan 14:

The coal rich Jaintia Hills, also house to Cement factories in Meghalaya, will see one of the most intriguing ballot battles in the Meghalaya General Election 2013, scheduled for February 23. The reason for making prediction of election result in Jaintia Hills so difficult is the fact that the electorates hold cards close to their chest till the last moment.
The region, comprising of East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills, is blessed with rich natural resources.
Besides having huge deposits of coal, the plateau is composed of granites, phyllite, genesis, sandstone and limestone.

The people of the plateau have economically benefited immensely from the gifts of Mother Nature, she has not been looked after well. The area is leading from the front in destruction of nature in state with open coal mines, acidic river water and rapid depletion of forest cover.
Though it is home to many enterprising entrepreneurs and coal barons, the region has not benefited much from them as development is equivalent to nil. Be it the roads, tourism, or infrastructure, all have concentrated only on Jowai, rest of region remains largely neglected.
The region has its unique gifts to world in the form of smoked fish, small chilli, turmeric among others yet they have not been marketed well.
As far as coal mining is concerned, the age old rat hole mining is still prevalent here. The business lobby from the coal rich area is so strong that even the state government had to allow rat hole in the recently passed Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy 2012.
So, when elections are around, one can only expect what is to be expected. The region witnesses all cards of the game from booth capturing to money and muscle power.
Currently, Indian National Congress (INC) has an upper hand in the region with six of the seven seats in the erstwhile Jaintia Hills going to it. The only exception was Nartiang, which was won by NCP. But the ensuing election promises to give a tough fight to INC as UDP has fielded some high caliber candidates.
After delimitation, the Assembly Constituencies in the district are Nartiang, Jowai, Raliang, Mowkaiaw, Amlarem, Sutnga – Saipung, and Khliehriat. Of these Nartiang, Jowai, Raliang, Mowkaiaw, Amlarem are under West Jaintia Hills and Sutnga – Saipung and Khliehriat under East Jaintia Hills.
After delimitation, there are three new constituencies, Mowkaiaw, Amlarem and Khliehriat.
Also, interesting to note is the fact that so far there are more than one independent candidate in all the constituencies, except Nartiang, which has one independent candidate.
As per preliminary reports, 1 – Nartiang till now has only two candidates vying for the seat, Sniawbhalang Dhar from INC and Helarius Dkhar as Independent candidate. The sitting MLA from the constituency, ECB Bamon has decided to contest from Mowkaiaw.
So far it seems that Dhar has an upper hand as he has been working for the people.
For 2 – Jowai, sitting Congress legislator Dr RC Laloo will see tough challenge from former MLA Sing Mulieh who will be fighting with UDP ticket. Dr Laloo is an educationist himself but saw teachers taking the war path while he held the state education portfolio. Also, he could not pass the Right To Education (RTE) Act. His apathy towards the teachers in state will certainly have an impact during the polls, since many teachers have vowed to unseat him due to his indifferent attitude.
Also, the ballot battle from the constituency is usually between Dr Laloo and Mulieh, and each is known to succeed the other every alternative term.
Besides them, Moonlight Pariat and Heimon Hing will be in the fray. Mentionably, Pariat has already tested political water when he held the office of JHADC CEM for a short stint. However, people seem to be skeptical about his capability to perform in the larger Legislative Assembly arena.
Coming One Ymbon is expected to retain the 3 – Raliang Assembly constituency seat who is said to be maintaining an iron fist control over his voters. This time, he has to face Kongstar Sungoh from UDP, and Independent candidates - Jeral Passi and Shemphang Dhar.
For the 4 – Mowkaiaw assembly constituency seat, the ballot battle will see former NCP legislator ECB Bamon fight with NPP ticket against Qually Suiam of INC and Mihsalan Suchiang of UDP, besides former Williamnagar DTO Robinus Syngkon and Charles Phawa as Independent candidates. Mowkaiaw being a new constituency, the poll battle is expected to be even for everyone in the fray. But Syngkon is expected to hold advantage for being native to the area. He is also expected to be banking on sympathy vote for his 55 odd days of ordeal with GNLA as Williamnagar DTO.
Meanwhile, Suchiang is not to be taken lightly since he was a former Minister. Phawa too is expected to play a vital role here as he was the former President of JSU, having good control over the youths in the constituency.
However, Bamon is said to have shifted his constituency to Mowkaiaw as his vote bank was shifted here after delimitation.
For the 5 – Sutnga -Saipung Assembly Constituency, so far the sitting Congress legislator Shitlang Pale does not seem to have any immediate threat. However, Mongal Tyngkra , who is contesting as Independent candidate is expected to give some sleepless night to Pale. Hopeful Bamon is also in the fray as an Independent candidate.
Another new Assembly constituency in the region is 6 – Khliehriat. Being one of the most undeveloped parts of Jaintia Hills, it will be virgin land for whoever is elected by public. It also means that the legislator will have an uphill task cut out to show his capability in developing the constituency. Congress has allotted ticket to Amos Dkhar, who is the sitting JHADC MDC. He will be confronted by Obil Kyndait from UDP, who is also an sitting JHADC MDC. JHADC is well known to be one of the most under – developed Autonomous District Councils in the state where constructive debate have never been witnessed nor was its functioning smooth, will now see most of its members seeking better arena to flex their muscles.
Others in the fray are Justine Dkhar and Justin Lyngdoh, who have decided to contest as Independent candidates. Mentionably, Justine Dkhar was denied Congress ticket.
As for the 7 – Amlarem Assembly constituency, another new constituency, Congress Legislator Lahkmen Rymbui will be facing former MLA RL Tariang, besides sitting JHADC MDCs Stephan Mukhim and D Nongpluh, who will contest as Independent candidates. The constituency is expected to see heated ballot battle. Rymbui is seeking a return through a new constituency after delimitation, however, the sticky turn of events in the Muktapur firing incident will be the main deciding factor for him.
Besides the state Assembly, Jaintia Hills will also be the testing water for 2014 Member of Parliament (MP) elections as the AICC has entrusted the region to Lok Sabha MP from Shillong Vincent H Pala. Sources claim that even during the allotment of party ticket, Pala was given free hand to choose candidates for the region even as MPCC President Dr DD Lapang was allowed to hand – pick candidates for Khasi Hills and Ri – Bhoi and the candidates for the entire Garo Hills were apparently chosen by Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma.
Even then, the region is bound to see money and muscle power do the playing during election as it being coal belt area wherein coal barons are known to engage ‘goons’ to run their businesses and have political allegiances.

Source:meghalaya times