SHILLONG — Voice of the People Party (VPP) candidate Dr Batskhem Myrboh has expressed confidence in securing a decisive victory in the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, while challenging political parties to seek electoral support through public trust and issues rather than money.
Myrboh said VPP’s political momentum was driven by voters, not manufactured by the party, and presented its approach as an alternative to conventional electoral practices. He also argued that Meghalaya’s political experience could offer lessons for the rest of the country.
“We as a party, we are very confident, 100% confident, to not only win but to win handsomely,” Myrboh said, projecting a strong electoral performance for VPP. He distinguished what he termed as a people-created wave from one generated by a political party, insisting that the party’s support came from the public.
The candidate placed clean politics and good governance at the centre of VPP’s identity, saying the party wanted to establish a genuinely democratic system, substantive democracy and a responsible government. He also said its agenda included carrying Meghalaya’s key issues to the Government of India at the national level.
Myrboh was particularly critical of parties that bribe voters, arguing that electoral competition should be based on policies, credibility and a genuine connection with the electorate.
“In a truly democratic system or in a truly democratic party, it is very wrong for any political party to bribe the voters,” he said. He further argued that parties claiming to uphold the Constitution should follow what he said as VPP’s example. According to Myrboh, seeking votes through money undermines the principles that democratic parties are expected to defend.
He also called for greater recognition of Meghalaya’s political experience at the national level, arguing that other parties could learn from the democratic consciousness of voters in the Shillong parliamentary constituency.
“If the other political parties in India follow the model that we have here in Meghalaya led by the VPP, and the kind of democratic consciousness and democratic ethos that the people of Shillong parliamentary constituency have, I have no doubt that India will be a developed country in no time,” he said.
Myrboh maintained that VPP must offer a distinct political alternative rather than imitate established parties, saying otherwise there would be little reason for the party to contest elections.
