Thousands vow to struggle for corruption-free Meghalaya

SHILLONG, JAN 31 : Thousands of people Monday vowed to struggle for a corruption-free Meghalaya at a mass rally held here as part of Clean Politics Campaign. and to make 2013 the beginning of an era of clean, transparent and effective governance in the state.

The “partyless campaign” initiated by Team Ardent - named after Meghalaya legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, attended thousands of people from across the state aims aims at educating people about the electoral politics, ills of corruption, rights and duties of citizens and responsibilities of the lawmakers.

“We have resolved to continue to strive in our struggle for a corruption-free Meghalaya,” Basaiawmoit said after thousands of people supported Team Ardent’s Clean Politics Campaign at the mass rally.

With a year left for the 2013 battle of ballots in Meghalaya, the rally also resolved to make 2013 the beginning of an era of clean, transparent and accountability governance in the state. Political instability appears to have become a permanent feature in Meghalaya, which has seen four governments since the March 2008 assembly elections.

“We cannot provide clean and transparent governance without ensuring political stability in the state. Therefore, we are going to educate our people across the state about the electoral politics and to elect a right-thinking legislator who would ensure to provide the electorate with clean and accountability governance,” Basaiawmoit said.

Moreover, the “Clean Politics Campaign” rally also resolved to reach out to every nook and corner of the state in choosing the “right kind of parliamentarians”. “Before you cast your vote, please ensure that you have done a careful analysis of the candidates.

Choose the one who has a clean image with a good social standing so that he can fight for your rights,” Basaiawmoit said.
In fact, the “partyless campaign” which was launched in May 2010 had received positive response with Over 7,000 people have registered for the political mass movement held in various parts of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills in eastern part of Meghalaya.

Speaking at the mass rally , the United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator said campaign was the cure-all to the problems afflicting the society ranging from corruption to the disparity between the haves and the have-nots.

 “This is the beginning of a revolution which would lead to the institution of clean and effective governance in the state. We will try to show results from 2013 onwards by electing good people to the Assembly and to reject those who come to us with false hopes and promises,” Basaiawmoit said.