Voice of the People Party (VPP) formally launched; promises to fight corruption, serve interest of people

SHILLONG:

With just over a year left for the Assembly elections in Meghalaya, a new political party, Voice of the People Party (VPP), was formally launched on November 19 with a promise to give the electorates a corruption-free government.

Speaking at the launch, president of the VPP and former Nongkrem legislator, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, said that the party is proud of its “courage and conviction” to take this step (to form a new party).

Touching a number of subjects during his speech, Basaiawmoit expressed concern over the role and influence of “money and businessmen” on elections. 

“This has resulted in the absence of good legislators and serious lawmakers. It has also led to serious implications on the state, especially, in terms of growth and development,” the VPP chief said.

Urging the people to join the party, Basaiawmoit said that the VPP is an alternative for the people of Meghalaya over governments that have so far "failed to address the issues of the people".

Calling the current government a failure, Basaiawmoit accused the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government of “deceiving” the people of the state by passing a resolution in the Assembly for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and henceforth, not doing anything about it. 

He stated that if the state government is really sincere about implementing the ILP in the state, it could have done it without passing a resolution in the Assembly.

He alleged that the state government is trying to shift its responsibility to the Centre, and that the implementation of the ILP will be one of the party's agendas during elections. 

Recalling the recent joint visit by the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya to Langpih as part of confidence-building measures among the border residents, the VPP president said that he is for dialogue to end the long-pending boundary disputes between the two states.

He also said that Meghalaya is celebrating its 50 years of attaining statehood in 2022 but the citizens have nothing to feel proud of.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the party, Dr Ricky A J Syngkon said that Meghalaya lags behind in education, health, agriculture and other sectors since it does not have a vision statement.

“We have these drawbacks because we don't have a vision; the past leaders did not have a vision. There is full of uncertainty for future generations. In this backdrop we, the VPP, decided to have a vision for the state,” Dr Syngkon said.

The first general meeting of the VPP, apart from electing Basaiawmoit as its president and Dr Syngkon as its general secretary, also elected Dr. Kara H. Chen as vice-president, Dr Shemborlang Rynjah as the joint secretary among others.

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