JOWAI, JUL 22: Cabinet Minister and Jowai legislator Wailadmiki Shylla took aim at the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP), questioning its governance record and urging voters not to “believe” the opposition’s criticism of the NPP-led Meghalaya government.

Addressing at an election campaign for the NPP Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll candidate Dr DRL Nonglait at Ummulong Madan Khawang on Tuesday night, Shylla said the VPP was undermining traditional institutions after bringing in an Act under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and later scrapping provisions that required headmen to certify land in villages.

“Isn’t this taking away the power of our headmen?” he asked.

He alleged that VPP leaders had come to Jowai to disapprove of development works undertaken in the constituency, even as they themselves lacked unity.

Targeting the VPP’s four MLAs, Shylla said the party had failed to present a united front even in the district council.

“They were in power in the KHADC for just over a year. The CEM resigned, the EMs also resigned. Is that a house that lives in peace and unity? They have only just started governing in the KHADC, yet you can already see that work is not moving smoothly,” he said.

He cited the recent protest flag raised by Hima Sohra and alleged that young people who had hoped for jobs were “thrown out” after the VPP came to power in the council.

“You have only just started governing in the KHADC and there is already so much chaos. Imagine what would happen if one day you were given the chance to run the entire state of Meghalaya,” he added.

In contrast, Shylla said the NPP has 32 MLAs in the current Assembly, but the party speaks with one voice.

“You will never hear Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar speaking differently from Prestone Tynsong, or Sir Conrad speaking differently. Even till today we are a house that lives in peace and unity,” he stated.

Shylla also responded to remarks by the VPP president on legislators’ vehicles.

He said he travels in a government Fortuner with an ML01 registration, while the VPP president, despite not being in government, uses a private Fortuner.

“Since for me, it is a government Fortuner, we have to ask where he got that Fortuner from,” he said.

Highlighting the state government’s work in education, the minister said the government is providing Rs 2 crore annually to East Jaintia College to help with salaries and ensure quality education.

He said parents earlier hesitated to dream big for their children due to the absence of professional institutions in the state.

“In the past few years, parents did not dare to even dream for their children because the children wanted to study to become doctors or engineers or take up higher courses, but we did not have engineering colleges or medical colleges, and we didn’t even have a state university in our state. But now, under the leadership of this government, all of this has been made possible,” Shylla said.

He concluded by urging people not to believe the opposition’s narrative that the current government cannot run the state effectively.