The political landscape in Meghalaya is undergoing a gradual shift as regional, state-based parties are regaining prominence. After a successful debut in the last Lok Sabha elections, where the Voice of the People Party (VPP) surprised everyone by winning the Shillong seat, they have now solidified their position by sweeping the district council elections in Khasi Hills.
In the recently held elections to the Khasi and Jaintia Hills district councils, the VPP emerged as the most successful party, winning 17 of the 29 seats in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and 8 seats in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC). The VPP’s campaign focused on the introduction of Article 371 in Meghalaya, contrasting with other parties’ stance that the existing Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which underpins the district councils, is sufficient to protect the indigenous people of the state.
The party was formed on 19 November 2021 in Shillong with the vision based on the three pillars to—revive, restore, and transform Meghalaya. The party President, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit has been quoted by media reports as saying that “all parties in the state, especially the regional parties, have failed the people miserably,” and therefore members who made the VPP “felt the need, as a group of concerned citizens, to save the state from further decline and deterioration, we were left with no option but to launch a new political party.”
He had said at that time the VPP’s would ensure good governance, clean politics, peace and tranquillity with “zero tolerance towards corruption.”
According to political analysts, the VPP’s victory signals while some of what the party has been promising to deliver “is paying off, it is also about the growing frustration among the electorate with national parties and several established regional parties that have allied with national political forces. Many regional parties in Meghalaya, such as the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Hill State People’s Development Party (HSPDP), are in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National People’s Party (NPP).
Based on the election results, the VPP is now poised to form the Executive Committee in the KHADC. In addition to the 17 members who won on the VPP ticket, there is a possibility of forming an alliance with other parties, particularly two independents who also won. The UDP secured 5 seats, NPP won 4, and HSPDP claimed 1 seat. The BJP, Congress, and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) were unable to secure any seats in the February 21 elections.
Meanwhile, in the JHADC, the NPP emerged victorious with 13 of the 29 seats and is likely to form the next Executive Committee with support from the UDP, which won 3 seats, and 2 independent members. The Congress party secured 3 seats.
