In his last team, five districts - West Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley - were not represented, while there were 2 representatives each from 3 districts viz., Tako Dabi and Lombo Tayeng (East Siang), Takar Marde and Tanga Byaling (Upper Subansiri) and CC Singpho and Chowna Mein (Lohit).
This time, however, the Chief Minister has grown wiser to the fact that denying few districts their ‘legitimate share’ of ‘the ministerial cake might not taken by Congress workers and the supporters in those constituencies or districts lying low. With little choice, Khandu will have to tread carefully in at least three districts of Kurung Kumey, West Kameng and Upper Siang. Despite overall poor electoral performance of the Congress in these districts, the party has retained the sitting MLAs in each.
With the apex student body of Kurung Kumey district already gunning for its share of cabinet representation, a political observer commented that this could be the beginning of real show in the entire electioneering process. Also, within the newly elected Congress legislature party, there are several are disgruntled members because of the greater importance given to a few ‘chieftains’ by the Chief Minister and those in the helm of affairs in the State party, despite they not having substantially contributed either to the party and the government.
It appears that Khandu, though has had a smooth drive in the chief ministerial race without any opposition, may not have as smooth a drive in the ministry-making exercise. But sources said, having grown that much wiser from the relatively short but quite eventful tenure as the chief minister, he is more focused on the greater interest of Arunachal Pradesh than on small-time politics at the district level.. Therefore Khandu may have in mind a fair distribution of the ministerial portfolios to every district but the Lower Dibang Valley, from where there is no Congress legislator.
Nevertheless, the question remains as to whether the Chief Minister would succeed with his ‘appeasement strategy’ with just ‘12+2’ berths to flaunt before the 40-odd aspirants. Practically, he has two options to choose from and decide, that is he has either to rely on political wisdom or adopt and apply what is known in Congress parlance, the ’quantitative methodology’. The latter option could be more convincing vis-à-vis first one. However; the second option too is fraught with attendant risks, particularly when the situation is so tricky and sensitive subject. Besides, there are two ways of going about applying the so-called quantitative methodology:
One, if the ‘ratio’ based formula of the Congress high command is to be followed, five districts, namely Kurung Kumey, Upper Siang, Dibang Valley, Lower Dibang Valley and Anjaw would go unrepresented in Khandu’s team, while three districts- West Siang, Tirap and Changlang- would lap up with 2 posts each. That’s the similar situation as it had obtained during the last team composition exercise. But it is in the realm of great speculation if the Chief Minister would afford to drop the finance minister in the outgoing cabinet in the process. Secondly, if performance (cut-off: 50% strike rate of Congress) is taken as the basis for district-wise allocation; then again five districts-West Kameng, East Kameng, Kurung Kumey, Upper Siang, Lower Dibang Valley- would go unrepresented . These districts are represented by stalwarts like TN Thongdok (though new yet a known technocrat), Kumar Wai, RT Khunjuju, Atum Welly and JK Panggeng. Thus, the situation would lead the Chief Minister back to square one.
Coming back to the first option of relying on ‘political wisdom’, it may look to the best option in the given situation. But can Khandu afford to offer 2 posts to certain districts like in his previous tenure, while ignoring more deserving districts like Tirap, Changlang and West Siang. Besides electoral performance, Tirap-Changlang and West Siang needs greater focus to counter increasing activities of the extremists..
Whichever way he decides, Khandu has to keep the greater challenges ahead of Arunachal in mind, and accordingly decide on the composition of his team. Till he decides, concerned citizens too would join him in splitting their hair to solve the zig-saw puzzle of five districts with nil and three districts with two representations respectively.
Which way, Mr Chief Minister?
Sl. No & Districts Total Seats INC Seats INC’s Strike Rate Ratio 3:1 Round Off 3:1
1.Tawang* 3 3 100% 1.0 1
2.West Kameng+ 4 2 50% 0.7 1
3.East Kameng* 5 2 40% 0.7 1
4.Papumpare* 3 2 67% 0.7 1
5.Lower Subansiri+ 2 2 100% 0.7 1
6.Kurung Kumey* 4 1 25% 0.3 0
7.Upper Subansiri* 5 4 80% 1.3 1
8.West Siang* 7 6 86% 2.0 2
9.Upper Siang+ 2 1 50% 0.3 0
10.East Siang* 5 3 60% 1.0 1
11.Dibang Valley+ 1 1 100% 0.3 0
12.LowerDibang Valley+ 2 0 0% 0.0 0
13.Anjaw* 1 1 100% 0.3 0
14.Lohit* 4 3 75% 1.0 1
15.Changlang* 5 5 100% 1.7 2
16.Tirap* 7 6 86% 2.0 2
Grand Total 60 42 70% 14.0 14
NB: *Districts had representation in last team
+Districts did not have representation in last team