There's no place for religious narrative in Meghalaya polls: Vincent Pala

In the last few months, Shillong Lok Sabha MP Vincent Pala has risen to be a strong contender to Meghalaya Chief Mukul Sangma within the Congress. With party insiders keen on a non-Garo face, Pala is the man who seems to be shaping up the narrative in the Assembly elections. In an interview to DNA's Amrita Madhukalya, he stresses his continued role in the Centre, unless the Congress leadership deems otherwise. Edited excerpts:

How does it look like for the Congress at this point of time?

I think we'll do better than the previous years. This is the first time that the Congress president has visited twice; and added with the tremendous support from the Congress headquarters, it has inspired a lot of party-workers. Rahul Gandhi had also sent us a team of coordinators, who are designated different areas of the state. All of that has helped.

Do you see the BJP's pro-Hindu image has helped the Congress here? The denial of visa to Reverend Paul Msiza might have electoral ramifications.

These, according to me, are small issues. Because most people here are Presbyterian and Catholic, and the Paul Msiza visa issue has affected the electorate in the Garo Hills. As far BJP's stand on beef is considered, the people of Meghalaya know that nobody can stop them from eating what they want.

More than these, what has played into the minds of the people is the continued harassment of minorities in the last few years across the country. People have smartphones and issues are transmitted immediately. To add to that, the BJP unfulfilled promises have also been a factor.

The NGT ban on rat-hole coal mining is a poll issue. A private member's bill you introduced in Parliament asking for coal to be brought under the sixth schedule did not move far. How much of a pressure is the state government facing on this?

We had a small role to play in this matter. What the Centre could have done was to bring coal under the sixth schedule, like I had proposed, so that the burden on the local, tribal population is minimised. All these while, when the Congress was in the Centre, coal was practically a state subject and no one interfered. I think the BJP wanted to use the NGT matter as a trump card, but it backfired. People are smart enough to know. The Congress does not depend on the coal belt. The sitting MLAs in the Jaintia Hills and Nongstoin are not from the Congress.

Are you looking at a bigger role in the state?

I'm comfortable in the Centre, but politics is dynamic and I will stand by what the party decides for me.

What will be party's key offerings this year?

The Congress has shown that it can govern, and we brought the law and order situation here under control. Ten years ago, Khasi-Jaintia Hills had issues that the Garo Hills are facing today. After we took over, the inflow of tourists has increased manifold, and lakhs of young people are being employed. Then, in the health sector, we did a lot and the word is that the Centre has modified some of our schemes. In the education sector, we are a state where the entire money spent by the government is given to the church to educate the children and it is effective. Only a Congress government can do this. So far we are doing better than BJP-ruled states.

What we are keen to offer to the people is easing of the mining issue, better job facilities, and a system to take the government to people's doorsteps in hilly areas.