Voice of the People Party (VPP) president Ardent Basaiawmoit announced on Friday that the VPP intends to expand its reach beyond the Khasi-Jaintia Hills and develop a presence in the Garo Hills as part of its long-term political strategy. He stated that the VPP cannot spread throughout the entire state at one go since they have entered politics without relying much on financial influence.
“However, we are slowly gaining ground in the Garo Hills and are pleased with the favourable reaction from the locals,” Basaiawmoit said. He discussed the VPP’s goal of becoming a political force spanning the length and breadth of Meghalaya. “We are not a party restricted to a specific area or neighbourhood. We will put in a lot of effort to make sure that the VPP is present throughout the entire state as a registered and acknowledged state regional party,” he continued.
Asked if the VPP intends to form an alliance with prominent political leaders in Garo Hills, Basaiawmoit rejected the notion of depending on conventional political networks. “Many people thought the clean politics campaign would only succeed in Nongkrem when I launched it. However, it is now accepted throughout the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region. In a similar vein, residents of Garo Hills now desire change. They are starting to realise how crucial clean politics is to effective governance,” he remarked. Basaiawmoit promised that the VPP will be recognisable in all districts by 2028, despite the fact that the party might not yet have a fully developed its foundation in Garo Hills.