After the alleged misdemeanors of the Mining and Geology Minister, Donkupar Massar and the Chief Whip of the Government, Adolf Lu Hitler Marak, this time it was the turn of two members of the ruling dispensation to turn against each other. Recently, Manas Chaudhari, Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Sanbor Shullai, Deputy Speaker in the State Assembly were at loggerheads with each other. Manas Chaudhari alleged that Sanbor Shullai threatened him and called him a communal person in an inebriated condition. This charge was however vehemently denied by Sanbor Shullai.

This is the third such allegation involving a member of the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA). Earlier, Mining and Geology Minister was alleged to have beaten up some labourers near Borsora, the second incident involved the Chief Whip of the Government, Adolf Lu Hitler R. Marak who was alleged to have assaulted his PSO. In both the incidents the cases against them seems to have remain stagnant. Manas Chaudhari filed an FIR with the Sadar Police Station against the Deputy Speaker, Sanbor Shullai also filed a counter FIR against the Education Minister. Toki Blah, Retired IAS Officer says that what has been done cannot be undone. It is time for our public representatives to act with responsibility. It is high time that the bill on code of conduct for public representatives be passed.

According to sources the rivalry between Manas Chaudhari and Sanbor Shullai seems to have its origin in the delimitation of constituencies. A large part of Bishnupur, Oxford, and Kenches Trace which falls under Mawprem constituency in the aftermath of delimitation of constituencies will fall under South Shillong Constituency. This means South Shillong Constituency will consist of areas like Laban and a few localities falling under Mawprem constituency. A supporter of Sanbor Shullai said that Manas Chaudhari is jealous of the growing popularity of the Deputy Speaker especially among the poor. However, Anthony Lyngdoh, Ex- MLA from Laban constituency says that he is not aware about the personal grudge between Mr. Sanbor Shullai and Mr. Manas Chaudhari but as a public figure the former should not have acted the way he did in full public view.

In the aftermath of the Shillong Club incident, the Headman of Upper Mawprem locality, Hamboy Shullai in a Press Conference held at the Assam Club, Laban alleged that Manas Chaudhari was a communal man and said that he had evidence against him to prove the charges. The authorities of the Upper Mawprem Dorbar Shnong alleged that MLA schemes were allotted to members of a particular community only. The Dorbar Shnong also found fault with the MLA schemes implementing committee wherein only the members of the community to which the MLA belongs were given representation.

Toki Blah, Retired IAS Officer says that what has been done cannot be undone. It is time for our public representatives to act with responsibility. It is high time that the bill on code of conduct for public representatives be passed

The MPA, already reeling under immense pressure both from within and outside the government on the Donkupar Massar issue and the Adolf Hitler issue is now facing an uphill task as both the parties in this particular case belong to the ruling dispensation. The MPA government is having a wafer thin majority in the 60 member house and the top brass of the coalition partners like the Chief Minister, Donkupar Roy of the United Democratic Party and Purno Sangma of the Nationalist Congress Party want an early end to the present impasse between the two. A prominent academician who does not want to be named said both Manas Chaudhari and Sanbor Shullai being public representatives should not have washed dirty linen in public, because it is ultimately what they do that reflects on the state of affairs in Meghalaya.

Mr. Toki Blah also goes on to say that that it is high time for the people of Meghalaya to ask themselves what kind of legislators they want. At the time of election we are asked to elect from a group of eight-ten candidates who we know are useless, we have no choice but to elect them. Therefore at the end of it all these legislators are thrusted upon us.

Before this article had gone to print fresh allegations of extortion from petrol pump owners have come up against Donkupar Massar, Minister, Mining and Geology and Weight and Measures. Petrol pump owners in Meghalaya had threatened to down their shutters indefinitely alleging that officials from the Department of Weights and Measures had made unreasonable monetary demands. It was alleged by the petrol pump owners that these officials had demanded Rs. 50,000 from the tribal owned and Rs. 1 lakh from the non-tribal owned pumps per annum. However the very next day a denial came from Donkupar Massar, rubbishing the allegations made against him, he said it is a ploy to tarnish his image. In a further twist to the tale around 17 petrol pump owners of the State has distanced themselves from the allegation leveled by the Meghalaya Petrol Dealers and Transporters Association against Donkupar Massar and also the proposed strike called by the association.

As Mr. Anthony Lyngdoh says, he attended the public meeting held at the Opera Hall as a responsible citizen of the State to condemn the incident. The representatives who we send to the legislature should act with accountability and responsibility. Therefore we the electorate of the state should become stake holders in the affairs of the state and the first thing that we should do is to elect the right person.