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A Chinese proverb says ‘give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime’. Going by this proverb, Meghalaya politics and its legislative assembly elections have been nothing but fishy with a stench of stale and rotten fish. The proverb plainly means that instead of giving niceties, cosmetic symbolism without substance, tokenism and brittle gifts at the eleventh hour, it is better to pave a platform, provide a means, coach and mentor, empower the people and create an environment for holistic development. It is more meaningful and productive to chart a vision and strategies into the long-term. This proverb is significant as over the years the politics, elections and governance largely manifest the limits of ‘giving fish’. The people have failed to see the light. Meghalaya democracy is more of a play in darkness. One does not know what the future will be. But, is the political class only to be blamed?