Projecting confidence ahead of the high-stakes Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) candidate Prof. Batskhem Myrboh on Thursday asserted that the party remained focused on its own political strength and grassroots support rather than its rivals, expressing confidence that the VPP would emerge victorious in the contest and retain the parliamentary seat vacated after the sudden demise of sitting Lok Sabha MP and senior VPP leader Dr. Ricky A.J. Syngkon in February. He maintained that the party’s campaign was driven by its own ideology, organisational strength and public support, and not by the candidature of its political opponents.
Rejecting suggestions that the candidature of National People’s Party (NPP) candidate Dr. D.L. Nonglait, who is also the president of the Khasi Authors’ Society, posed a challenge to the VPP, Myrboh said the party’s campaign was centred on its own strategy and support base.
“We concentrate on our own politics, and we know own strength, we go by that so, we believe that we will come up victorious in the Lok Sabha bye election,” the VPP leaders said.
He added, “We know own politics, We know our own issues, and we know our own strength, our own strategies, and therefore, I don’t see any threat. And, as I said, we are confident of winning the election.”
Highlighting the party’s growth in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, Myrboh said the VPP’s support is driven by its principles, policies and commitment to clean politics and public welfare.
“Supporters of VPP, they support on the basis of understanding the principles of the party. Understanding the policies and programs or the party and also the commitment of the party towards a clean politics and also taking the interest of the people of the state and all the basis of that, I feel and believe that not only we are able to retain the support base, but we will be able to increase also the number of the supporters of the party,” Myrboh said.
Claiming that the party has expanded rapidly since its formation, he said, “Definitely, The party has grown tremendously if you compare to 2021 when we started and in a matter of few years. We have been able to win elections and also take the issues of the people forward, and therefore I would say that facts themselves speaks about the credibility, and also the strength of the voice of the people’s party.”
Myrboh said the VPP is not preoccupied with the number of candidates in the fray or its political opponents.
“We are not looking at the number of other candidates, we are not looking at who contest who does not contest, We are looking at your own politics,” the VPP candidate said.
Responding to claims that some VPP leaders are leaving the party, he dismissed such reports as overstated.
“Those claims are exaggerated, and We also, I would say, we are able to attract new supporters, but we don’t want to say and to exaggerate the thing. Let the results of the MP by election speak,” he added.
