Former Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary might soon start a new innings as a politician in his home State — Assam. Although Mooshahary did not make it clear but he gave an indication that he might consider joining politics soon.
“I wanted to become a politician when I was a student. But I could not join politics due to my economic condition. In those days politics was a service and not a livelihood. So, I could not choose to become a politician as I had to support my family. But now I am free…so, let’s see,” Mooshahary told mediapersons while taking part in the ‘Guest of the Month’ programme of the Guwahati Press Club on Saturday.
Mooshahary, who had been the Governor of Meghalaya since 2001 till his retirement earlier this week, however, stressed on the reform of electoral system in India and said that biggest source of black money is elections in India.
“Elections have become a gamble in India. People must think what kinds of candidate they want to vote and the vote selling culture — which is the root of all problems — should be stopped,” he said, adding that instead of money, the politicians should take the help of media to reach out to the people.
“Suppose I decide to contest the elections, I’ll use media to reach out to the common people and the voters,” Mooshahary said.
It may be mentioned here that Mooshahary, who was born to a poor family at the remote Odlaguri village in troubled Kokrajhar district of Assam, is the first IPS officer from North-East to be appointed as the Director-General of the BSF, a position he held till his retirement from active service in February 2006.
Apart from this, Mooshahary — a 1967 batch IPS officer — had also occupied several distinguished posts including the Director General of the elite National Security Guards (NSG) in February 2002.
In March 2006, Mooshahary was appointed by the Governor of Assam as the first Chief Information Commissioner of the State under the Right to Information Act. In 2008 he was appointed as the Governor of Meghalaya.