Shillong: Voice of the People Party president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit hammered regional politicians on Sunday for betraying their mandate. He slammed eight former United Democratic Party legislators who recently defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Basaiawmoit spoke at an election rally in Sutnga, East Jaintia Hills, to support VPP candidate Batskhem Myrboh.
He argued that regional parties often hide behind the banner of indigenous rights only to switch sides for national power. Politicians frequently ignore the voters once the ballots are cast. Basaiawmoit demanded a new culture of accountability where leaders remain subservient to the public. He defined a clear hierarchy: party leaders first, the public second, and elected representatives third. He warned that the VPP will punish its own members if they break the party line.
Vivanstone G. Kynta, the UDP candidate for the Shillong parliamentary by-election, remains defiant despite the exodus of his party’s MLAs. He refuses to quit the race. Kynta claimed the party survives because of its grassroots workers, not its officeholders. He accused businesspeople entering politics of chasing money instead of public service. Kynta called the national parties involved in the merger two sides of the same coin.
Kynta expressed resolve despite the Assembly Speaker recognizing the merger. "I am not disheartened at all and I reiterate that the show goes on," Kynta said. He invoked the spirit of Ekla Cholo Re to signal he will march forward alone. As a senior advocate, he promised to handle any future legal or political hurdles leading to the vote.
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