Cabinet minister Rakkam A Sangma today said that he could see the possibility of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) making inroads in Garo Hills were it to contest there.
The VPP has so far confined itself to Khasi-Jaintia Hills. The party has a major problem with the minister, having accused Sangma, of the National People’s Party (NPP), of making a communal speech during campaigning for this year’s Lok Sabha election in Garo Hills.
“I heard some good people are also waiting to join the VPP in Garo Hills but it depends on how the leaders of the particular party reach out and connect with the people,” Sangma said.
The VPP does not appear to be in a hurry to make a foray into Garo Hills but its chief, Ardent M Basaiawmoit, said that it has received feelers from those interested in running in the upcoming Gambegre by-election.
Sangma welcomed the entrance of the VPP to Garo Hills, saying that this would give the party a pan-Meghalaya outlook and lose the perception that it is a “Khasi party”.
“It would be a good move as any political party should not have boundaries or limitations – they should be in every nook and corner,” he said, adding that the labels of NPP being a ‘Garo party’, VPP a ‘Khasi party’ and Bharatiya Janata Party a ‘Hindu party’ should be done away with.
Meanwhile, Sangma also said that allegations that the NPP is using the state machinery to its advantage for the Gambegre by-poll is an incorrect portrayal.
“Providing development, like constructing buildings, roads and schools is not for election. We are doing our normal duty. The same people are talking about no schools in the areas and when the government constructs schools does that mean we are using the state machinery?” he said. “Not only in Gambegre, we are doing it in every nook and corner of the state.”
