Shillong, Oct 27: Bringhto Buhai Lyngdoh, the `iron man` of Meghalaya, who died today, was a proponent of coalition politics long before the trend emerged at the Centre.

Thrice chief minister of Meghalaya, though he never completed a full term, Lyngdoh headed an alliance government with the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), the Hill State People`s Democratic Party (HSPDP) and Public Demand Implementation Convention (PDIC) as long back as may 1979. The APHLC had spearheaded the movement for carving out a separate state from Assam. Meghalaya was granted statehood in 1972 after a forceful yet peaceful movement led by late Capt Williamson A Sangma and Lyngdoh among others. Lyngdoh, perhaps for the first time, also brought about the concept of power sharing. He and late Capt Sangma agreed to remain in the chief minister`s post for a two-year term each from may 1979. He was able to complete his own two years. Often dubbed as the `iron man` for his tough stand, Lyngdoh never admitted any boundary dispute with neighbouring Assam or the existence of insurgency in the state.
He even called a press conference to claim that there were no extremists in Meghalaya, laying blame on only extortionists and robbers.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Lyngdoh was also a strong supporter of direct election of the president and wrote several times to Rastrapati Bhawan and Prime Ministers on this.

Bureau Report