Is Garo Hills Ready for Clean Politics? VPP Sets Sights on Expansion

Correspondent

Shillong: Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief Ardent Basaiawmoit asserted that the party is not confined to any particular community or region but represents the entire state, having been officially recognized as a state regional party. Committed to clean politics, he announced that VPP will contest select seats in Garo Hills in the 2028 Assembly elections. Highlighting the party's steady expansion, he noted the growing support from the region and expressed confidence that VPP's vision of transparent and ethical governance would resonate across Meghalaya.

When asked about the party's prospects in Garo Hills by 2028, Basaiawmoit said, "If not, but definitely, we are going to make our presence felt in a few of the districts in Garo Hills."

Speaking to media persons in Shillong, he emphasized VPP's approach to politics, stating, "You see, as you are aware of the fact that we are diving into politics without depending much on money power and without the use of money power. And since our resources are very limited, we cannot organize the party in one go throughout the state, but we are gradually making inroads in Garo Hills, and we are also happy to get the feedback, the response from the Garo people that they are willing to join to strengthen the party. So we will definitely try to reach gradually to every nook and corner of the state."

Reiterating the party's broader vision, he added, "As we have said, the Voice of the People Party is not a party of a particular community or for a particular region. It is a state regional party, it has been registered and recognized as a state regional party. So we will work hard to ensure that one day, the Voice of the People Party will not be covered only in Khasi-Jaintia Hills, but it will cover throughout the state."

Addressing perceptions that politics in Khasi-Jaintia Hills differs from that in Garo Hills, Basaiawmoit recalled the initial skepticism surrounding his clean politics movement. "That is the general perception of the people always. I remember when I started this clean politics campaign and managed to win Nongkrem constituency, some people in Mawkynrew, Mawryngkneng, and Jaintia Hills gave a remark that this type of politics may work out in Nongkrem, but it is not possible in some other constituencies, you cannot fight an election without money. But when you look at the present trend, I think it is vice versa, where the entire Khasi-Jaintia Hills region has accepted this principle of clean politics. So the same is the case with Garo Hills."

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