The Voice of the People Party (VPP) is buzzing with confidence that it will do very well in the upcoming district council elections next year.
“Everywhere we go we are getting a very resounding response from the public, which is an indication that our party will be performing very well in the coming district election next year,” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh told Highland Post yesterday.
Informing that the VPP has no doubt that it will be able to field candidates in almost all constituencies in the entire Khasi-Jaintia Hills in the KHADC and JHADC elections, he also said that the VPP will also continue to explore possibilities of expanding into Garo Hills.
The VPP was founded only in late 2021 by ex-MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit and then won four of the 17 Assembly seats it contested at this year’s state election, which returned Basaiawmoit to the legislature.
Myrboh maintained that the VPP will stay committed to the issues concerning the people of the state and continue to work hard and that means all the time and not just before an election.
He also stated that the party is not in favour of dual MLA-MDCs, even though he admitted that the district councils are often stepping stones for politicians who want a seat in the Assembly.
“Our stance from day one was clear that we do not support dual posts and an MLA should not contest the council election because we believe that space and opportunities should be given to others and not be dominated by a few,” Myrboh said.
Stating that the councils have a very important role to play in the lives of the indigenous people, he stressed that the members elected to the councils should be serious and committed to issues and not use these institutions for their selfish interests.
“The significance of a grassroots government like the council is important because decentralisation of power in a democracy is crucial but, at the same time, the legislation aspect in these institutions should be up to the mark because the legislation aspect in the council still lacks in many ways and there’s a need for many reforms and amendments to make it better,” he said.
Stressing on a few drawbacks, the spokesperson said that the concentration of land in the hands of a few and lack of legislation when it comes to community ownership of land is a failure and an area where the council has not performed.
“We still need intensive studies and experts on the Sixth Schedule and the VPP will sit to discuss in depth on all these aspects,” he said. “We need strong laws and committed members in the council who can bear fruits in line with the Sixth Schedule because if we look at the Land Transfer Act as well there are lands that the government has given to others in the form of a lease. That only shows a lack of commitment by the members towards the indigenous tribals of the state.”
He also said that there are many laws empowered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution that will never be implemented in letter and spirit as long as such institutions are run by uncommitted members.
