Shillong, March 4: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Saturday expressed concern over the current political situation in the State, especially Shillong, wherein certain groups have decided to come out on the streets to hold public meetings and protests against the NPP’s bid of form government.
“The party appeals to the public while exercising their democratic right to protest, to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state,” VPP spokesperson Dr B Myrboh said in a statement issued here.
The protests come after Conrad K. Sangma led NPP staked claim to form the government on Friday. Governor Phagu Chauhan had invited the NPP first to form the government since it emerged as the single largest party with 26 MLAs in the February 27 State assembly polls. Conrad has already submitted a list of 32 MLAs to the Governor towards his claim to form the new government. The 32 MLAs include: 26 NPP, 2 BJP, 2 HSPDP and 2 Independent MLAs. However, HSPDP has claimed that the party has not authorized its MLAs to lend support to NPP.
On the other hand, UDP is trying to form a regional-party led government with a ‘Khasi’ Chief Minister, and rallying other parties like newly formed VPP, HSPDP, Congress, TMC, and HSPDP. UDP has 11 MLAs, VPP has 4, Congress and TMC have 5 each, PDF has 2 MLAs, and HSPDP has 2 MLAs, making a total of 29 MLAs. However, the supposed betrayal of HSPDP MLAs against its party’s wish has derailed UDP’s ambitions and plans, leaving the supposed non NPP-BJP alliance with only 27 MLAs.
Meanwhile, VPP has maintained that the daily life and livelihood of the people should not be affected and that the image of the Khasi community in particular and the state in general should not be tarnished by the protests by the pressure groups who are pushing for a regional front-led government with a ‘Khasi’ Chief Minister.
Myrboh also asserted that peace and tranquillity is a precondition for development and progress.
