Trinamool Congress (TMC) Meghalaya Parliamentary Party leader and Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Mukul Sangma, on Friday, described the recent Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) elections as a clear manifestation of public sentiment, asserting that the Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) electoral surge was inevitable.
“For me, it is nothing surprising. It was palpable, it was foreseeable, and it is just a reflection of the pulse of the people. You see, any election outcome is a reflection of what the people are speaking. People have spoken, you have seen it, and it’s before us. I take this opportunity and privilege to congratulate all the parties that have ensured the victory of their respective candidates. Also, I would like to convey something from my heart—those parties that have drawn a blank should do more homework, work harder, and reconnect with the people,” Sangma said.
With both the BJP and Congress failing to secure a single seat in the KHADC elections and the National People’s Party (NPP) managing only four, Sangma underscored that this outcome was a serious indictment of the ruling party’s performance. When asked whether VPP’s rise was a warning for traditional parties, he remarked, “You have to ask this question to the leaders of these parties. But at the same time, the most important message from this election is that political dynamics are changing—not just in Meghalaya, but across the region and the nation. This is the first time in history that Congress has drawn a blank, and other parties have suffered the same fate. What makes this significant is that this was a district council election conducted while the government of the day is in power. Unlike a simultaneous Assembly and KHADC election, this was an election specifically for constituting the two Autonomous District Councils.”
Sangma accused the ruling NPP of exploiting state machinery to influence the elections yet failing to secure a decisive victory. “The party in power had everything at its command, yet they managed to win only four seats. That’s a bigger question. You have to ask them why their performance is almost as bad as drawing a blank. This should serve as a wake-up call for political parties in government, reminding them of their failures in responding to the needs of the people, particularly the youth,” he stated.
Highlighting growing public frustration over unemployment, Sangma pointed out that VPP’s support base was largely driven by young voters disillusioned with the government’s inaction. “If you analyze the election results, you will see that the majority of votes that gravitated toward VPP came from the youth. Unemployment is a challenge for every government, but what is alarming is that the current administration does not even bother to fill existing vacancies—positions left vacant due to retirement, promotion, or the demise of employees. Thousands of government jobs remain unfilled,” he asserted.
He recalled a recent State Security Commission meeting where it was decided that all police department vacancies must be filled by March, questioning whether the government would fulfill its own assurance. “The failure after failure of this government follows a pattern—whenever confronted with issues, policymakers, including the Chief Minister, are quick to offer reassurances, but their actions remain contrary to their promises. Forget about the creation of new jobs—do you even see existing vacancies being filled?”
Sangma also criticized the government’s lack of support for entrepreneurship, despite Meghalaya’s advantageous market potential. “We must congratulate all budding entrepreneurs who are exploring possibilities, given the state’s potential. Meghalaya, despite being small, has access to a market of over a billion people. That is a strength, an advantage. But to harness it, we need a supportive ecosystem. You cannot rely solely on the success stories of ambitious young men and women. The government must also create employment spaces within and outside the government sector. Depriving the people of access to job opportunities is something I strongly condemn. The government must do justice to the aspirations of the people based on the state’s potential,” he said.