VPP looks so desperate due to fear of losing election: says Tynsong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 9, 2024

National People’s Party (NPP) state president and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday termed the Voice of the People’s Party (VPP)’s attempt to disrupt the party’s election campaigns as a “desperate act” because they know they are losing the election.

“I don’t know why these people look so desperate. Is it because they know that they are losing or I don’t know for what, why should they act very desperately like this? Their behaviour says like that,” Tynsong told reporters.

He was referring to the incidents, which took place at Umsning, Ri Bhoi, Jaiaw, Rynjah in Shillong and other places where the VPP supporters have attempted to disrupt in almost every meeting organized by the NPP across the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.

Tynsong said he is witnessing for the first time ever such kinds of things happening in Meghalaya because in the past years, MP elections are held peacefully.

“This time it is very unfortunate specially the members of the VPP look so desperate, the way they disturb wherever the public meeting is held I think it is totally unwanted,” he said.

Asked, the deputy chief minister said that the NPP will lodge a complaint before the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure peaceful campaigning during the elections.

“We have to bring to the notice of the ECI as this kind of disturbance we don’t like to happen as you don’t know, especially the public meeting in the evening. Anything may happen. Any incident which is unwarranted may happen. Therefore, we will lodge a complaint and we will request the election commission to step in and to make sure that fair square campaign and election be held in the state of Meghalaya,” he said.

Appealing to all political parties to refrain from such unacceptable activities, Tynsong said, “Let us make sure the dignity of the state is more important than anything else. Let the election campaign go on peacefully. Whoever wants to vote for whom we leave it to the wisdom of the voters.”

To the voters, he said, “My request to all voters not only in Shillong parliamentary constituency but also in Tura parliamentary constituency, we maintain peace, we maintain our decorum and we should also maintain our dignity too.”

Meanwhile, Tynsong, who is also holding charge of the Home (Police), has directed the Director General Police (DGP) and SPs not to allow disruption of meetings by political parties.  

“We have instructed the police force. From the state government side we  have our own say on this and the direction has been given and I have told the DGP and respective SPs to be alert and also not to allow such disturbances to happen while campaigning. Any party or any candidate wherever they go for campaigning after due allotment made by ECI means nobody should disrespect, nobody should come in between to disturb such a campaign of any candidate that we have,” he said.