In between fun karaoke sessions, t2 caught up with CM Mukul Sangma at a dinner he hosted in Déjà Vu, Shillong’s hip restaurant in Laitumkhrah. Guests included the team of Shesher Kabita — Konkona Sensharma, Rahul Bose, Swastika Mukherjee and director Suman Mukhopadhyay.

You have the reputation of being a well-dressed CM…

(Smiles) Thank you! Fashion is a part of Northeastern culture. The inclination to dress well is a way of life here.

What potential does fashion have in Meghalaya?

People are very interested in fashion here. The young population is sizeable. People are very conscious of what they wear and what’s in — be it dressing or music. So there is a lot of scope. We need a poster boy of fashion!

Would you do a SWOT analysis of the state for our readers...

Strength: Our renewable natural resources. We have a lot given by nature and we should leverage on this. We need to strike a balance between renewable and non-renewable energies. Our aim is to ensure sustainability — not just for five years but generation after generation.

Weakness: The fact that we have not been able to understand our strength. We cannot have remedial measures and solutions unless we have created sustainable employment. It is a problem of employability. Unemployment can be solved but if it’s because of lack of opportunity, then there is a problem.

Opportunity: Appropriate policy adoption with complete commitment. You can have many agendas and programmes but unless there is complete determination to implement them, nothing can be done. We are committed to fulfilling our goals. We will involve all sections of people and here I would like to specially make a reference to discrimination. Because unless there is harmony, people don’t participate.

Threat: The lack of vision. If leaders lack vision, there is threat. Otherwise, there is no threat.