My Shillong MP and M

By Toki Blah

By Toki Blah

The unfortunate and un- timely passing away of (L) Dr Ricky Syngkon, Lok Sabha member from Shillong constituency on Feb 19, 2026 left a gaping void in Megha- laya’s political milieu. The Lok Sabha vacancy be left behind now needs to be filled up and till the writing of this op-ed, three potential candi- dates, from three prominent political parties have an- nounced their candidature and intention of contesting his vacant Shillong MP seat. No doubt other parties will soon follow suit with their own candidates. That is the easy part. The daunting nature of the exercise lies in identifying a candidate acceptable to the electorate and public acceptance will go a long way to fill the Dr Synkon’s shoes. Dr Synkon belonged to that rare breed of politicians whom the common man looked up to. A people’s representative whom one somehow radiated that sense of ethics, sincerity and val- ue-based politics that is in such short supply among Meghalaya politicians. It’s the type of leadership Me- ghalaya needs and has been in search of. Candidate selec- tion is therefore going to be a tough call, for besides the above-mentioned qualities the element of sympathy vot- ing also has to be taken into consideration. The content of this writeup will therefore from on (1) how to, without prejudice to any candidate or party, assist the electorate, in electing the type of person Meghalaya needs to send to Parliament (2) create aware- ness as to the duties and re- sponsibilities expected of an elected MP from the Shillong Constituency.

In the coming MP elec- tions, although everyone will deny it, money will definitely play a role as it usually does. To point bewailing this un- avoidable fact. This write-up therefore will not waste time deliberating on a socio-po- litical malaise that everyone pretends is not there. Instead, let us talk about the expecta- tions, both social and politi- cal that people expect from their MP and as a corollary to that, the official duties and responsibilities the elected MP has towards those who elected him to power. The contest usually proceeds in the following manner. Once the name of a candidate is announced for any election, his/her disposition and tem- perament, personal lifestyle, personal history, attitude towards others, especially the poor, form hot topics for

public discussion. The main points usually debated upon are the attitude and conduct of the candidate in his/her so- cial interactions with others. Humility, the trait Dr Synkon displayed with such natural ease of which Ellerine Di- engdoh highlighted in her article titled “The Sound of Silence”, ST 22nd May is a definite advantage. Academic qualification is another plus point because we have learnt from the past that MPs who are comfortable with English are better equipped in driving home a point on the floor of Parliament. Being solicitous and compassionate; ready to help; ready to walk the walk of the poor and the marginal- ized is another quality that the electorate admire and expect from their representa- tive. A candidate who man- ages to emerge unscathed through this unofficial pre- poll, public screening will enter the fray with an edge over others.

“It’s the type of leadership Meghalaya needs and has been in search of. Candidate selection is therefore going to be a tough call, for besides the above-mentioned qualities the element of sympathy voting also has to be taken into consideration.”

Once elected, the tenure of an MP is usually for 5 years. During that time he either sits with the treasury or the opposition. Everyone knows this. The sad part however is the fact that most of us remain ignorant of what exactly is a MP supposed to do. Actually, the onus placed on an MP is quite intense and heavy as he represents people at three overlapping levels. First at the constitu- ency level. In our case the Shillong Constituency that comprises both the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. At this level he is expected to raise issues that impact the constituency he represents. The Shillong MP raising the question of inclusion of the Khasi Lan- guage in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution is an example. Secondly, he also represents the state he comes from. The MP from Shillong standing up in Parliament to flag the seriousness of the border dispute with Assam and to call for Central inter- vention on the matter, is what Meghalaya expects its MP to do. Thirdly he automatically also represents the nation as a whole, irrespective of wheth- er he belongs to the treasury benches or the opposition. This inclusive character of

our democracy is usually displayed when delegations of MPs are sent abroad to ad- vocate core interest issues of India. Such delegations are multi party in nature and can even be led by an opposition member, the latest example of which are the delegations sent to various countries after Operation Sindoor.

Let us therefore assume that by late 2026 we would have elected and secured an MP seat for a person we be- lieve is best qualified to rep- resent us in Parliament. Now what do we expect him to do in New Delhi? It’s a cheeky impertinent question to ask but it has to be asked for the simple reason that most of us view our MPs simply as money bags elected to dis- perse the MPLADS funds. That of course is ridiculous for, the MP we send to Delhi must possess a world view that is in tune with Megha- laya’s needs. The (L) GG Swell as Deputy Speaker of Parliament did once com- ment on the qualifications and ability of a rival MP candidate with the caustic remark “Un leit leh aiu sha Delhi? Un leit leh diena?”(“ What does he expect to do in Delhi? Sell hot gram by the wayside?”) Malicious no doubt but true!

So aside from the de- mand for ILP and inclusion of Khasi language in the 8th Schedule, there is also the bigger picture of what Meghalaya needs to obtain from the Center. Our MP should have the intellectual capability and oratory skills to shift parliamentary focus on Meghalaya’s rural devel- opment where 75% of our population reside. He should be able to leverage Central schemes on issues such as agro-processing; value addi- tion to agricultural products; urge upon the center for studies on how our small marginal hill-side-farmers can create adequate econo- mies of scale production to enable Meghalaya’s agro products to compete in the open market.

Speaking of markets let us also create awareness at the Center of the need for an alternate people’s market based on the lewduh model. I

am not speaking of malls but of a much wider marketing complex where between My- New Shillong needs to create relief to a conges- lated and stressed city. Such a market should for small scale local preneurs (lewduh) to It will provide local opportunities; decon- Shillong and improve cal economy. Can the KHADC cannot be in such an enterpris-

The Shillong MP also have the skills to ize and bond with the even if they don’t the political side of Friendship with other mentary colleagues pushing Meghalaya even with MPs who nothing about our er issues our MP troduce in Parliam- seemingly impossi- improving Shillo- congestion. There technologies deve- cifically to introd- urban transport. B- such improvement Central assistance boon for all concer-

Then there is to is now officially a the state’s biggest engine. Space pre- from naming all th- areas and places await developmen- take Umiam lake a ple. It has all the po- attracting tourists. hypocrisy and dec- the first order if w- 5-star tourism inf- in and round the leaving its water dirty, polluted and mised as it is toda-

Today Umiam the world’s bigges- fed with raw sewag- bage from both the and the Umkhrah. a waterbody that natural ecosystem into a stagnant, tox-

need a MP who vince the highest in both the Urban and DONER M- Delhi for a comp- Umiam Ecotourist tion project at the In conclusion ma- person for Shillon- opment carry the c- counting.