By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 24: As Christmas approaches, political parties in Meghalaya have used the season to urge a return to people-centric politics, calling on leaders to prioritise service, compassion and equity over power, excess and optics-driven governance.
The Voice of the People Party (VPP) said Christmas should prompt serious political introspection, reminding leaders that governance is about serving the vulnerable, not appearances.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh cautioned against unchecked, construction-led spending, arguing that infrastructure without parallel investment in health, education and the environment only deepens inequality and debt. He warned that public funds risk becoming a “black hole” unless they translate into real human development, a concern he said was already evident in Meghalaya. Drawing from the Christmas story, the VPP urged leaders to reject power hunger and emulate values of selfless service, fairness and equity.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) echoed the call to uphold the spirit of Christmas as one of love, forgiveness and sharing, while highlighting the economic struggles of many families.
State BJP vice president Bernard Marak said extravagant celebrations stood in contrast to the hardships faced by the poor, daily wage earners and casual workers.
While welcoming the timely payment of salaries to council employees before Christmas, he noted that many groups— including pensioners, students awaiting scholarships, widows and persons with disabilities—continued to struggle with pending dues and deserved greater attention.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) also said Christmas should inspire leaders to rise above partisan interests. UDP MLA Mayralborn Syiem stressed that public life must be guided by humility, compassion and responsibility, particularly towards the poor and vulnerable.
He said governance rooted in empathy and service was essential to build trust, unity and social harmony, values he said lay at the heart of Christmas and remained vital in politics.
