Shillong, Aug 6: The strength of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) is showing no signs of slowing down, the party’s Shillong Lok Sabha candidate Batskhem Myrboh said today.
Speaking to reporters after a public rally called by the party against the functioning of the state government, Myrboh expressed confidence that the party would not only retain its existing support base but also expand it as campaigning for the upcoming by-election gathers pace.
Myrboh is seeking to hold the Shillong seat for the VPP; the seat became vacant in February following the sudden death of the holder, Ricky AJ Syngkon.
Responding to a question on whether the VPP has strengthened its position in the Khasi Hills, Myrboh said the party has witnessed remarkable growth since its formation in 2021.
“The party has grown tremendously. In just a matter of a few years, we have been able to win elections and take the issues of the people forward. The facts themselves speak about the credibility and the strength of the Voice of the People Party,” he said.
Other rival parties appear to have taken a leaf out of the VPP’s book, with the National People’s Party (NPP) fielding an academic in DR Lyngdoh Nonglait and the United Democratic Party (UDP) an advocate in VGK Kynta. Myrboh, like the NPP’s man, is also an academic and so was Syngkon before him.
On whether the presence of several candidates in the bypoll could affect the party’s campaign momentum, Myrboh said the VPP remains focused on its own political agenda rather than its opponents. “We are not looking at the number of other candidates or who is contesting and who is not. We are looking at our own politics,” he said.
Rejecting claims made by some NPP leaders that several VPP members have resigned, Myrboh said, “Those claims are exaggerated. At the same time, we are attracting new supporters, but we do not want to exaggerate things. Let the results of the MP by-election speak for themselves,” he said.
Commenting on the turnout at the party’s protest programme earlier in the day, Myrboh said the VPP was satisfied with the response, adding that the party does not mobilise people through financial incentives. Around 3,000 people attended the march.
“We simply called upon the people and whoever was free came. We never make arrangements or provide any financial support for people to attend such meetings. Whatever the number, we are grateful and always satisfied,” he said.
Asked whether taking to the streets was an effective political strategy, Myrboh said democracy extends beyond formal institutions and public participation remains an important part of the democratic process.
“Politics and democracy are continuous processes. Legitimacy is also a continuous bargaining process. Democracy exists and operates beyond institutions,” he said.
