SHILLONG — Can the Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) make inroads into the Garo Hills? Is the political dynamic of the region undergoing a seismic shift? What lies ahead for the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) in a state where the National People’s Party (NPP) appears to be tightening its grip?
In a no-holds-barred political statement, NPP working president Incharge of Garo Hills and Cabinet Minister Marcuise N Marak dismissed VPP’s relevance in the Garo Hills, bluntly asserting that the party is virtually invisible in the region. “There are no takers for the Voice of the People’s Party in the Garo Hills, and they do not have any leader acceptable to the people in the region,” Marak said, confidently reiterating NPP’s supremacy in its stronghold.
Even as Congress continues to assert itself nationally, Marak painted a grim picture for the party in the Garo Hills. “Infact, Congress is the oldest party in our country, the party is struggling in Garo Hills now because most of their party leaders have eroded to the NPP, and although it won a seat in the last MP elections, it does not have a hold in the Garo Hills region,” he stated.
He turned his gaze to the state’s principal opposition, Trinamool Congress, claiming the party is floundering with internal confusion and dwindling grassroots support. “Most of the TMC members are confused and indecisive about wheather to remain in TMC or quitting. Some of their leaders are also confused wheather they want to stick to their party TMC. I don’t say TMC shambles in Garo Hills, but the people and the leaders are abit confused wheather they will remain in TMC because it is very difficult for people to accept TMC on Garo Hills,” Marak declared. Asked about senior TMC leadership, he tersely responded, “No comments.”
Acknowledging that politics is a challenging terrain, Marak affirmed NPP’s continuous outreach and grassroots engagement. “I don’t see any dominance. We are trying our level best to work with the people there,” he said.
As the political chessboard prepares for the upcoming Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, Marak revealed that the NPP is actively building its base by welcoming leaders from across the aisle. “There are feelers. We will be disclosing at the right moment. I, as the working president of NPP, incharge of Garo Hills, I will be having district meetings in every district and meet with all the party leaders in all the districs. I have been informed that many former leaders who have been associated with different political parties want to join the NPP and be a part of the family,” he said.
“It is a part of the exercise for the MDC elections,” he added.
As political equations evolve in Meghalaya, all eyes are now on whether VPP can finally crack the Garo Hills code — or whether the Congress and TMC will find themselves further sidelined in a landscape that the NPP insists it continues to dominate.
