VPP demands Govt to direct all traditional chiefs not to hinder the conduct of free and fair elections

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 28, 2025

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Tuesday demanded the district council affairs department to issue a general direction to all traditional headmen to refrain from taking any step that hinders the conduct of a free and fair election.

In a letter to the Commissioner & Secretary in-charge DCA, VPP general secretary and MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon alleged that the decision of certain village headmen/rangbah shnong/sordar shnong has also already illegitimately deprived the VPP and its candidate to organize public meetings.

“Therefore, I would like to request you to kindly issue a general direction to all village headmen/rangbah shnong/sordar shnong to refrain from taking any step that hinders the conduct of a free and fair election requiring them to facilitate the political parties and candidates to organize their meetings by issuing No Objection Certificate within a certain time frame from the time the application is received whether during the operation of the model code of conduct or otherwise,” he said.

The MP said that there have been instances where the party candidates face the problem of obtaining permission for holding of public meetings/campaigns from the office of the village headmen/rangbah shnong/sordar shnong of Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts.

“The permission sought are either not given any consideration or given after a great delay thereby affecting our campaigns. It has been experienced by our candidates that there are village durbars  that restrict public meetings other than the common platform organized by them.

The above actions of certain village headmen/rangbah shnong/sordar shnong adversely impact the fundamental rights enshrined in the India constitution,” he alleged in the letter.

The VPP leader also reminded, “We the members of the party either individually or collectively have the right to exercise the following fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Constitution under Article 19 (1): Freedom of speech and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly without arms and freedom of movement throughout the territory of India.”

Stating that candidates and political parties are important stakeholders in the electoral process, he stated, “Not only that they have rights, they also represent the opinions and political voices of voters. Free communication of information and ideas by voters, candidates and political parties is essential to genuine elections. To this end, everyone, including political parties, candidates and their supporters, has the right to seek, receive and impart ideas through any means of their choice including public meetings.”