Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) candidate Robertjune Kharjahrin today said that the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) will not win from Shillong parliamentary seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“VPP is a new party with no grassroot workers. It does not have MLAs and MDCs like we have. VPP will not stand a chance as we have a much better chance to win compared to the other candidates,” Kharjahrin told media persons after filing his nomination papers at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.
Kharjahrin is also banking on the vote share that the public had cast in the Khasi and Jaintia region in favour of the UDP and HSPDP in the 2023 Assembly elections.
“If you go by the vote share, UDP and HSPDP combined secured the maximum vote and with my personal hard work we will add to that vote share. Definitely, I am hundred percent confident that we will win this election,” he added.
Mentioning that issues like Inner Line Permit (ILP), inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule, settlement of the Meghalaya-Assam boundary dispute, and bringing development in the State will be the issues that he will take up, Kharjahrin also emphasised that respecting the religious sentiments of the people will be the priority.
“I will go to the public with a reasonable manifesto and with a message that they can determine how to elect a candidate based on the issues we will be raising. So, I hope the public will elect the next MP based on the issues and manifesto. We have a commitment to fulfill it so we are confident that we will win this election,” Kharjahrin said.
Asked on how he would rate the performance of sitting Congress MP Vincent Pala, Kharjahrin said that 15 years have gone by and Pala has not been able to do much and it is time to replace him.
On the decision by the BJP to extend full support to NPP candidates, Kharjahrin said, “Let us be very frank, they have been working together in the parliament for the past many years, they support CAB together, they were doing many things together so I am not surprise that they are having pre poll alliance so let people decide on that.”
Kharjahrin was accompanied by UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh and HSPDP president K P Pangniang besides MLAs, MDCs, party leaders and workers from both the parties.