SHILLONG, June 21: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has firmly rejected speculation of internal discord and an impending defection of its Members of District Council (MDCs), describing the reports as recycled political manoeuvres aimed at destabilising the party’s hold on the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Sunday dismissed claims that four MDCs were planning to leave the party, calling them baseless and part of a pattern of rumours that began shortly after the party assumed power following its strong performance in the February 2025 KHADC elections.
“This is not the first time that reports about four MDCs planning to leave the party have surfaced. Such rumours have been circulating ever since we took over the Executive Committee,” Basaiawmoit said. “There is no truth in these reports. They are nothing but an attempt by political opponents to create confusion.”
The VPP had secured a decisive victory in the district council polls, winning 17 of the 29 elected seats and forming the Executive Committee with a clear majority. The party’s control of the KHADC marked a significant shift in local politics in the Khasi Hills.
The denial comes against the backdrop of the resignation of Pynkhrawboklin Kharjahrin, the VPP MDC from Mawkyrwat, who stepped down from the Executive Committee on June 20. Kharjahrin, who held charge of the Council Assets Department, cited increasing responsibilities in his constituency as the reason for his decision.
His resignation, which became public on the final day of the KHADC summer session, has triggered fresh speculation about possible unrest within the ruling party. It is the second resignation from the VPP-led Executive Committee since the party took power in 2025.
Kharjahrin continued to attend the session proceedings even after stepping down from his executive role, with Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh handling matters related to the Council Assets Department in the interim. When contacted, Kharjahrin declined to comment on his resignation or his future plans within the party.
Political observers note that the development gains added significance as parties gear up for the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election in the Shillong Parliamentary constituency. While the VPP maintains a comfortable numerical majority in the KHADC on paper, any perceived internal friction could test the party’s cohesion at a time when broader political alignments in Meghalaya are under scrutiny.
The VPP leadership maintains that the party remains united and focused on governance and development initiatives in the autonomous council.
