By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 11: Claiming that the growing influence of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) among the public and youths has begun reshaping Meghalaya’s political landscape, the VPP on Monday said the National People’s Party’s (NPP) decision to field Khasi Authors’ Society president D.R.L. Nonglait against VPP candidate Batskhem Myrboh in the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election reflected a shift in the ruling party’s political strategy.
VPP spokesperson A.W. Rani said this while replying to a query on their reaction to NPP pitching an academician against another in the fight for the Lok Sabha bypoll.
The VPP said political parties in the state had traditionally prioritised “winnability, wealth and influence” while academicians and teachers were rarely encouraged to take active political roles beyond supporting parties from the outside.
According to the VPP, the NPP’s decision to field an academician against Myrboh was an attempt to counter what it described as one of the VPP’s strongest appeals — merit, integrity and educated leadership.
The party further stated that the development reflected a changing political culture where “credibility and intellect matter alongside electoral strength”.
At the same time, the VPP questioned Nonglait’s political positioning, stating that he was widely perceived as a long-time loyalist of the NPP who entered active politics mainly for electoral purposes.
The party also maintained that joining a political party with a long political history meant accepting responsibility for its past actions and controversies.
Referring to the episode involving David Arnold Kharchandy, the VPP alleged that the NPP had initially proposed him as its academic candidate but later replaced him after finding what it described as a “more politically advantageous option” in Nonglait.
