NPP: VPP is ‘old wine in new bottle’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: Against the backdrop of the burgeoning VPP promising a better government for the people, the NPP, which is on the receiving end of this foray, has termed the VPP as ‘old wine in a new bottle’, implying that the same political leaders are in a different party making claims of a change in governance.
The VPP is promising to provide a new lease on governance which is corruption-free and is projecting itself as a political party unlike any other that the state has had.
NPP Spokesperson and Cabinet Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh, said, “The VPP is taking its maiden flight in the upcoming MP elections, we are well conversant with the fact that again the new political party has not gone through the government reins and have been the only one out of government, though old wine in a new bottle”.
According to her they are the same political players in a different party who have to take responsibilities of all the errors and the success they have attained in their various political identities.
“If you say will we face this kind of a challenge, yes we will. But we should not forget that everyone in a new party like the VPP also has political connections to other parties,” she added.
The VPP is said to be the ‘Team B’ of Meghalaya Trinamool Congress (TMC) and is led by Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who has been a member of various political parties in the past.
It may be mentioned that the VPP is all set to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Shillong seat and has already declared its candidate, Ricky Syngkon, whose contender is Ampareen Lyngdoh from the NPP.
Choose quality
over power: VPP
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: The Voice of the People Party (VPP), which is touting itself as an alternative in the state, on Sunday stated that the people need to pick quality over power and dominance when it comes to electing their parliamentarian representatives.
“Our state in the bygone years has produced very efficient parliamentarians who contributed hugely for the development of the state at the central level. These were people who could deliver in Parliament, who made a mark in the debate in Parliament,” said VPP Spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh.
According to him, at present the state is not experiencing such a situation. “We need to send to Delhi someone who can really articulate the interests of the state, someone who can improve the image of the state and bring back the pride of the people of the state. We need such people, not someone who goes on the strength of the party,” he added.
Referring to the notion that what will representatives of the regional party do when sent to Delhi as they have a maximum of one or two representatives, he said. “That I would say is a very shallow argument. Whether it is one or two, you need quality. With quality, even one will shine. But if you send someone from a dominant party perceived to be a big party who in the end cannot perform, you have lost”.
He claimed that the VPP will perform well insofar as the Lok Sabha polls are concerned. “We have no doubt that we will be doing very well irrespective of what the other parties claim. We are least bothered (about that). We know our job and we will concentrate on building our party at the grassroots. We are doing our work and we are confident to win,” he added.
Asked what gives VPP an edge over others, the party spokesperson said, “We give alternative politics which the people are looking for. This has been the yearning and desire of the people for a long time. We are providing that alternative which the people are wanting and that is the strength of VPP”.
“The other political parties, without discrediting their strength or weaknesses, have their own claims of being strong. But we know our politics, which connects with the people and the grassroots, issues that affect the people at the ground level and that is our strength,” he added.