Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh of the National People’s Party (NPP) took a dig at the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) today, saying that political parties should not isolate themselves to certain sections of the state.
The VPP is limited to Khasi-Jaintia Hills, though there are rumours that the VPP will try to expand into Garo Hills.
Expressing her opinion, Lyngdoh said she would like to see that Meghalaya operates as a whole. “We should not have sides and demarcation that are divisive in nature and our state will not progress in any way by dividing the citizens of the state on a certain political favourite,” she said.
The VPP has often taken stands that would favour the Khasi-Jaintia community over the Garos and this is not healthy for Meghalaya, Lyngdoh said.
Asserting that the NPP is pan-Meghalaya, she stated that the political party is being evaluated regularly by the people of the state. “If we have done a good job we will get the recognition in the next election. If we have done a bad job again we will face the wrath of the people in the next election – that is how a democracy performs and we are open to scrutiny and not going to isolate ourselves.”