SHILLONG, MAY 26: The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has accused the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) of a “glaring contradiction” between its pro-poor campaign messaging and the declared assets of its top leaders, citing Election Commission affidavits from 2023.

In a statement issued on Monday, HNLC general secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said that while VPP president and Nongkrem legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit seeks public donations during campaigns, his affidavit shows personal wealth of over ₹1.49 crore.

“A review of official Election Commission affidavits reveals a glaring contradiction between the VPP public image and the financial reality of its leadership. While VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit campaigns through ‘pynap borti’, asking ordinary citizens many of them daily wage workers and farmers to contribute their hard-earned money, his own declared assets stand at ₹1,49,15,089 (approximately ₹1.49 crore),” Nongtraw said.

According to Nongtraw, Basaiawmoit’s 2023 affidavit lists total assets of ₹1,49,15,089, including immovable property worth ₹1.35 crore — a ₹1 crore residential building in Laitkor and land valued at ₹35 lakh — vehicles including a Jeep, Bolero, and Royal Enfield totaling ₹6.7 lakh, gold jewellery of ₹1.92 lakh, and bank deposits and cash of ₹6.15 lakh. The affidavit also showed nil liabilities and ₹0 declared income tax.

“The message is unmistakable, ‘We are poor. We have no money. We depend on you, the people.’ Yet the same man who holds out that borti owns a three-storey residential building valued at ₹1 crore… two plots of non-agricultural land in Shillong worth ₹35 lakh… multiple vehicles and gold jewellery… zero debts not a single loan or liability,” he said.

Nongtraw pointed to the VPP’s February 15, 2023 manifesto, which promised “eradication of poverty from amongst society and the state” along with safety, peace, progress and cultural preservation.

“The question must be asked, is VPP fighting poverty or profiting from it?” he said.

He cited a North-Eastern Hill University analysis of the VPP’s 2023 campaign, which noted that party meetings were “very simple with no show of any pomp and grandeur” and that “people donated money for party campaign purpose and brought vehicles for party use.”

“This confirms the ‘pynap borti’ donation model ordinary people contributing their own money and vehicles to fund the campaign, while leaders presented themselves as having no resources,” Nongtraw said.

The HNLC leader added that three of the four VPP MLAs are crorepatis or near-crorepatis per their affidavits: Ardent Basaiawmoit from Nongkrem with ₹1.49 crore, Heaving Stone Kharpran from Mawryngkneng with ₹1.09 crore, and Brightstarwell Marbaniang from Mawlai with ₹41.85 lakh. North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum declared ₹13.61 lakh. All four MLAs declared ₹0 income across all financial years.

“If they truly have no income, who is funding their lifestyles? Where did the money for property acquisition, vehicle maintenance, and campaign expenses come from?” he asked.

Nongtraw said Nongrum was the only VPP MLA whose finances aligned with the party’s rhetoric. “With just ₹13.61 lakh in assets, no land, no house, and only a 2014 Scorpio vehicle, he is the sole VPP MLA who can credibly claim to represent the poor. The other three including party president Ardent Basaiawmoit cannot,” he said.

“The people of Meghalaya deserve honesty, not populist theatre… VPP cannot have it both ways. It cannot claim to be the ‘party of the poor’ while its president and senior leaders are among the state’s asset-holding political elite… The borti may be empty, but the leader’s pockets are not,” Nongtraw added.

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