SHILLONG, Jan 16: The fledgling political organisation of Meghalaya, Voice of the People Party —whose main political plank is to fight against corruption — has promised to come down heavily against the looters in the present government. VPP which seeks to capture at least a few seats, has promised if voted to power, it will ensure that those who looted the state are brought to justice.
He did not name anybody or any particular political party.
“We will ensure that those who are responsible for looting the state are brought to justice but we need to work together in order to bring political change in the state,” VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who has a clean political track record, said on Monday.
He was addressing a public meeting, attended by thousands of supporters of the party, at the Polo ground here.
Basaiawmoit said the VPP’s vision is to revive and transform the state. He said its top most priority is to bring about good governance and a corruption-free government. He further said the party will ensure there is peace and harmony in the state.
Asserting that the VPP will have zero tolerance towards corruption, he said the party will also take measures to ensure that there is no nepotism during the award of supply works to contractors and suppliers.
Basaiawmoit assured that the party will try to revamp the functioning of the District Selection Committee and the Meghalaya Public Service Commission to ensure that there is no political interference in the recruitment process.
“We want to ensure that there is fairness and transparency at all levels. The major objective of our clean politics campaign is to bring about more governance and less politicking,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, he clarified that the VPP is not a party of only the Khasis.
“We are a regional party to protect the constitutional rights of people residing in the state, irrespective of caste, creed or religion,” Basaiawmoit said.
Further, he said the VPP organised the meeting to send a message to those who say the party will not reach anywhere as money is needed to run a political party and contest elections.
He claimed that all parties, especially regional parties, have failed the people of the state miserably.
“As concerned citizens, we had come together and launched the political party since there was no other option,” Basaiawmoit further said. The VPP also announced the names of two more candidates on Monday – former KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum and school teacher Mayborn Lyngdoh. With this the party has announced 16 names so far.
Both Nongrum and Lyngdoh were formally inducted into the party during the election rally.
Addressing the gathering, Nongrum took a dig at the NPP-led MDA Government for fooling the people of the state in the past five years.
“The government always denied illegal coal mining but we witnessed how bodies were retrieved from the illegal coal mines in Jaintia Hills. This only proves that this government misled the people,” he said.
Interestingly, Nongrum got down to his knees and prayed for forgiveness from his late father in the middle of his address.
“I have always tried to fulfil the promises I made. I will quit politics if any situation compels me to change my principle,” he added later.
