In a speech made at Congress Bhavan in Aizawl on December 19 on the occasion of the holiday closure of the Congress party’s office for the year, Lal Thanhawla prayed for patience from the people for his government to begin working on the Congress’ election promises because “it would take time to clear the trees that had been cut down by the last government.” It had indeed been a stressful 10 years for the people of Mizoram because the MNF government had done almost nothing to fulfill its election manifesto. The only reason why the people had given their mandate to the MNF again in 2003 after 1998 was because they believed the MNF government needed more time to bring its promises to fruition. But another five years did not see the goods delivered bringing about despondency in the public and loss of faith in the MNF party.

The problems that Lal Thanhawla will have to face head-on as soon as the festive holidays are over are myriad and these are connected not only to the general public, but to government employees as well. Zoramthanga during the last few months of his tenure as chief minister had been plagued by numerous agitations from nearly all government employee associations who had been very unhappy with what they termed as ‘disparities in pay.’ The coming in force of the election Model Code of Conduct in October had been a welcome relief for Zoramthanga who had been pushed to a very tight corner without any hope towards resolving the employees’ various pay issues. This most irritating headache has been inherited by Lal Thanhawla and he is unlikely to be able to side-line the issues once 2009 rolls around.

The high expectations in the new Congress government could become the undoing of Congress party if the government fails to deliver the Congress party’s election promises in the coming two or three months. A grace period could be offered by the people in terms of financial spending because the new government would need to operate on the budget passed by the last ministry. However, April 2009 would be when people would expect the new government to really tackle the issues that have weighed down the people. Fighting the situation in which the people have found themselves in abject poverty would be one of the first steps expected of Lal Thanhawla. He has promised to do this through a revamped New Land Use Policy (NLUP) which the Congress had earlier implemented during the mid- to late-1990s. The Congress party had promised to make available at least Rs 1 lakh to each family to begin afresh in having a better livelihood through the revamped policy and this is where the problem will start because when the Congress implemented the NLUP during its last rule hard cash had been distributed. Since the distribution of hard cash had come under severe criticism from intellectual circles, the Congress party this time has decided not to distribute cash and if forced to do so, would do it only on installment and beneficiaries’ performance basis. The problem is that in their campaigns, the Congress party had deliberately been vague in how the NLUP would be implemented as a result of which most people still believe that they would come into a lot of money once the policy is implemented. This could pose a very big problem for the new government unless clarifications are made to the public in the early stage.

People are also expecting a dramatic change in workings of the government which had been favourable only towards the influential and wealthy during the MNF government. With Lal Thanhawla promising to do away with favouritism and nepotism, he could come in for severe condemnation if Congress workers are seen as getting the first crumbs that fall off the government’s table. On the other hand, the new chief minister would be hard put to stop his ministers from bestowing favours to their campaigners as rewards for their hard work which the Congress campaigners and workers would also be expecting. However, a diplomatic approach can save Lal Thanhawla from this if he can convince the people that their turn would be coming soon.

The Congress party had deliberately been vague in how the NLUP would be implemented as a result of which most people still believe that they would come into a lot of money once the policy is implemented

 

A lot of fast and hard work is ahead for the new Mizoram Government if election promises are to be fulfilled. Rooting out corruption had been one of the more visible election platforms and with the establishment of an independent and autonomous Vigilance Commission promised in the manifesto, this would be one area where the people would expect the new government to get cracking. If this Commission is slow in coming, the criticisms would come fast and furious because the people believe their troubles have their beginnings in corrupt practices.

One thing that is certain is that change in the government system is inevitable because the people have wised up to the need for governments to perform according to their party’s manifestoes. The media and civil societies have played a significant role in bringing this awareness to the public and it is very unlikely that they will remain mute if the government fails to deliver its promises. Many reforms are also on Lal Thanhawla government’s anvil and these would also need to be addressed within 2009 if any credibility is to be placed in the new government.    

David M. Thangliana.