Shillong, May 25: The general secretary of the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has called out Voice of the People Party (VPP) leader and Nongkrem MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit for being a crorepati while asking for donations from the general public.
The HNLC has been highly critical of the VPP, which runs the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), over its handling of the Syiem Sohra succession and now the suspension of the Syiem Mylliem.
The HNLC’s Sainkupar Nongtraw today revealed what he called a “glaring contradiction” between the VPP’s public image and the “financial reality of the leadership”.
Citing affidavits all candidates must file before running for MLA, Nongtraw said that Basaiawmoit had declared assets of nearly Rs 1.5 crore ahead of the 2023 state election.
“During election campaigns, Ardent Basaiawmoit is often seen with a simple borti, urging poor villagers and working-class citizens to donate whatever they can spare. The message is unmistakable, ‘We are poor. We have no money. We depend on you, the people.’ Yet the same man who holds out that borti owns a three-storey residential building valued at Rs 1 crore, two plots of non-agricultural land in Shillong worth Rs 35 lakh, multiple vehicles and gold jewellery,” Nongtraw said.
This personal wealth goes against the party’s pledge to eradicate poverty, the HNLC figure added.
He also cited other VPP members’ affidavits, with Mawryngkneng MLA Heaving Stone Kharpran declaring assets of Rs 1.09 crore, Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang Rs 41.85 lakh and North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum Rs 13.61 lakh. Only the latter was not criticised by the HNLC.
“The people of Meghalaya deserve honesty, not populist theatre. This is not grassroots politics, it is a stage-managed performance where wealthy leaders manipulate working-class voters into funding their ambitions,” Nongtraw said.
