Confident VPP eyes victory in Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll, unfazed by rivals: Myrboh

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: 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. He expressed confidence that the VPP would emerge victorious in the contest and retain the parliamentary seat vacated following 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 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 our own strength. We go by that, so we believe that we will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha by-election,” the VPP leader said.

He added, “We know our own politics. We know our own issues, we know our own strength and our own strategies. Therefore, I don’t see any threat. 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 the VPP support the party on the basis of understanding its principles, policies and programmes, as well as its commitment to clean politics and safeguarding the interests of the people of the State. On that basis, I believe that we will not only retain our support base but also increase the number of our supporters,” Myrboh said.

Claiming that the party has expanded rapidly since its formation, he said, “Definitely, the party has grown tremendously compared to 2021, when we started. In a matter of a few years, we have been able to win elections and take the issues of the people forward. Therefore, I would say that the facts themselves speak about the credibility and 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 is contesting and who is not contesting. We are focused on our own politics,” the VPP candidate said.

Responding to claims that some VPP leaders are leaving the party, he dismissed such reports as exaggerated. “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,” he added.

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