SHILLONG, Dec 12: The Voice of People Party (VPP) supremo, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Sunday said the party has been very cautious in selecting its candidates for the upcoming elections to the KHADC and JHADC.
Addressing a public rally at Smit to formally introduce the party contestants for various constituencies in the East Khasi Hills, he said the party would not like to see a situation where the candidates have tea with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma after winning.
“We would not like to give tickets to people who are not faithful to the party,” Basaiawmoit said.
Stating that some people are spreading misinformation about the party’s ticket distribution, he said the party has decided to withdraw tickets from any candidate who goes against the VPP ideology in the next two months ahead of the district council polls.
He claimed many political parties have been in a dilemma after the VPP swept the Shillong seat during the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year.
According to Basaiawmoit, the strategies these political parties are adopting to win the confidence of the voters are not working any more.
He said they tried to lure the voters by giving money, alcohol, and even taking them for a picnic.
“But the people had already made up their minds to vote in favour of the VPP,” he added.
Basaiawmoit cited “intelligence inputs” to claim that most of these parties tried to plant their members by making them apply for VPP tickets.
“But they failed in their objective as we denied tickets to such aspirants. After failing to get tickets from the VPP, they are asking these members to contest as independent candidates, which is an act of desperation,” he said.
The VPP president, however, said his party has faith in all its chosen candidates and believes they will remain loyal and strictly abide by its ideology.
VPP hurls barb at Dy CM Tynsong
He also criticised Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong for blaming the VPP legislators for the lack of development in their constituencies.
Stating that he anticipated a low-key district council election, Basaiawmoit said he expected Tynsong to stop misleading the people.
“But it seems the upcoming election will witness a high-voltage campaign, especially with Deputy CM telling people that they need an MLA who can deliver,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said Tynsong indirectly said the VPP legislators failed to deliver. “If the development in a constituency or the state depends only on the MLAs, then it would be better without a government,” he said.
Accusing the NPP-led government of suppressing the four VPP legislators, he said the government has stopped allocating developmental schemes to the constituencies represented by the party and is now accusing them of failing to ensure development.
Basaiawmoit said that once the VPP comes to power, the people will understand whether development for the state or constituencies depends on the MLAs or the government.
“It is a shame that the NPP, which is heading the government, is playing cheap politics,” the VPP chief said.
VPP calls concerts temporary relief for people
The VPP alsocriticised the government for organising festivals and concerts, calling them mere “painkillers” meant to offer temporary relief from issues such as corruption, poverty, and the drug menace.
“My question is whether this government is content with merely giving painkillers to the people. If we are voted to power, I assure you we will not rely on painkillers. Instead, we will strive to address the core issues afflicting the state and its people,” VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said during a public rally on Thursday.
Referring to the Bryan Adams concert at JN Stadium, Basaiawmoit remarked that the event would not translate into political support for the NPP. “The people who attended the concert are hardcore fans of Bryan Adams, not supporters of the NPP. They went to witness the rock legend perform live, not to back the government,” he stated.
