Shillong, Aug 30: He was once an important figure in the Jaintia Hills unit of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), but today Snarbor Laloo is warning the public that his former party is out to mislead them.
Speaking at a campaign event for the National People’s Party (NPP) candidate DR Lyngdoh Nonglait, who will be running for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, Laloo said that he had been suspended by the VPP along with sitting North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum for speaking out at a party convention.
Laloo was one of several speakers, including Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who campaigned for Nonglait at Lawbyrtun in Mawthadraishan on Saturday. The date of the by-election has yet to be called but the NPP is actively trying to get their man out ahead in order to flip the seat.
The Shillong constituents voted overwhelmingly for the VPP’s Ricky AJ Syngkon in 2024 but his death in February this year has left the seat vacant.
“During my journey with VPP I started to have questions. I used to discuss with [VPP] president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit. After I spoke directly in the convention before all Khasi-Jaintia leaders, I was suspended,” Laloo said. “It was a blessing in disguise. After suspension we became free and could support anyone.”
He said his decision to back Nonglait came after research. “I did research and found he is a capable person who has done a lot of work without much talk. No matter what uniform he wears, we need such a person. I don’t care about any party, I support Dr Nonglait,” he said.
The VPP has chosen Batskhem Myrboh as its replacement candidate for Syngkon. Like his predecessor, Myrboh is an academic. However, the NPP looks to have taken a page out of the VPP’s playbook by fielding Nonglait, who is also an academic.
Laloo also queried why the VPP was so interested in the NPP’s internal matters, such as choosing its candidates. The NPP chose to field Nonglait, who has no history of politics, for the Lok Sabha while pitching James PK Sangma, the NPP president’s brother, for the Rajya Sabha election in June.
“Why does VPP ask why NPP didn’t send Dr Nonglait to Rajya Sabha but to Lok Sabha? It is the NPP’s right to field anyone. Why interfere in other parties’ affairs? This questioning is just to brainwash the public,” Laloo said.
Praising Dhar, Laloo said, “Even when I was a hardcore VPP member I saw the major works Bah Sniawbhalang has done for this constituency. What is right must be praised and what is wrong must be criticised. I thank him for developing this area.”
