Meghalaya: VPP sets eyes on building alternative government in 2028

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Shillong: Signalling an ambitious political roadmap, Voice of the People Party (VPP) spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh has declared that the party will consciously work toward establishing an alternative government in Meghalaya by 2028, positioning itself as a credible force against the alleged misgovernance of the current dispensation.

“You see, the VPP has been given the mandate by the people to administer in the Autonomous District Council (KHADC)—that is small power compared to the power of the state government. But nevertheless, since we are given the power, we will ensure that whatever little power the District Council has, we will try to give the best to the people. That is the first commitment that the VPP has. And also given the kind of misgovernance that we have in the state, we have to ensure that the alternative government should be in place in 2028, and so we as a party have to consciously work towards that,” Myrboh said in an exclusive interaction.

When asked whether the VPP would resort to horse-trading ahead of elections, Myrboh made the party’s position clear. “As we have maintained, the principle of the VPP is not to import leaders; the VPP will create leaders. We will make leaders; that is our strategy. And therefore we will continue with that, but having said that, I keep maintaining this position that we are not ruling out 100 per centthe induction of people who have experience in politics, provided it is in sync with the ideology and principles of the party. The principle and ideology of the party are supreme, and nothing can be compromised.”

On the VPP’s stance regarding contesting the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections next year, he responded with measured caution. “We will see. We have not discussed that issue. We will accordingly see and sit on what the next move will be.”

In response to criticisms from rivals like the National People’s Party (NPP), which argued that a truly statewide party must contest across Meghalaya, including the Garo Hills, Myrboh was dismissive. “You see, I am telling you, we are a party that wants to capture power, irrespective of whether it is a state party or not a state-wide party—that is not a question. But we know our own politics, and we know our own goals. We are not defined by what the others say. We are not defined by the criteria of the others. We are defined by the criteria that we set for ourselves and the goals that we set and work towards. So we are least bothered by what the NPP or the other political parties say or don’t say. We know our own politics and focus on that.”

When asked whether seasoned politicians or senior leaders have sent feelers or expressed interest in joining the VPP, the spokesperson replied with candid honesty. “You see very few. I would be very candid on this—very few political leaders would be convenient with the politics with the principles of the Voice of the People’s Party, to be very frank, very few. And therefore, it will be difficult for such leaders to join the VPP because we stand for clean politics, good governance, accountability, and responsibility to the people. And given the kind of politics that we practise, it is not easy for the present set of politicians. But I’m not ruling out—maybe here, then there are—but very, very few. Difficult to find such a kind of politician.”

With a vision rooted in ethical politics, homegrown leadership, and a rejection of conventional electoral shortcuts, the VPP is steadily building momentum as a serious contender for 2028. As the party governs within the limited purview of the KHADC, its larger political aspirations are now unmistakably aligned with reshaping Meghalaya’s governance narrative from the grassroots to the state level.

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