The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) hit out at the National People’s Party (NPP) for trying to win votes by fielding political defectors rather than building up the trust of the electorate.
Vincent Pala, the MPCC chief and Shillong MP, pointed out that while numerous individuals are joining the Congress, only a few are aligning with the NPP, which has been adeptly marketed. Pala noted that the motivations behind those who left their parties to join the NPP are widely recognised.
Pala emphasised that winning elections is not solely reliant on people joining or leaving a party. Success requires garnering support from a substantial portion of the electorate. He underscored the significance of sustained hard work over many years.
Regarding the recent influx of United Democratic Party (UDP) leaders into the NPP in Ri-Bhoi, Pala expressed scepticism about the NPP’s prospects in the district at the upcoming Lok Sabha election where he will look to defend his seat against the challenge of the NPP’s Ampareen Lyngdoh, who defected from the Congress a little more than a year ago.
He suggested that each election carries a unique mandate from the people. Pala hinted that the defections from UDP to NPP might burden the NPP with expectations of providing positions like chairman or vice-chairman.
Pala anticipated that the true intentions of the new entrants would become evident once they began receiving various posts. He believed that the public would discern whether their actions serve personal gain or public interest.
Pala highlighted the ideological differences between the Congress and other parties in the region. He contrasted the Congress’s inclusive approach with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s perceived focus on a specific section of the populace. Pala also commented on UDP’s regional influence, NPP’s incumbency challenges and VPP’s strategies aimed at rural areas, particularly regarding unrealistic promises tied to reservation policies.
