The Rise of Programmatic Regionalism: A Socio-Political Analysis of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) in Meghalaya
By Nangiaisan Kharlukhi & Mary M. Kurbah
This study examines the rapid ascendancy of the Voice of the People Party as a significant political influence within Meghalaya. Traditionally, regional politics in North East India has been viewed through the lenses of ethnic identity, tribal protection, and the transactional dispensation of political patronage (Bijukumar, 2023). However, this inquiry suggests that the VPP’s emergence signifies a fundamental paradigm shift toward “programmatic regionalism.” This movement focuses on systemic issues—such as honest government, anti-corruption, and transparency—rather than narrow ethnic interests or personal political deals. Utilising cleavage theory and frameworks concerning party-voter linkage, this paper delineates the mechanisms through which the VPP transitioned from a nascent political movement to a formidable electoral contender. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, comprising a survey of four hundred individuals across four salient areas and interviews with political leaders and scholars. The findings demonstrate that the VPP connects strongly with urban youth and the middle class, who are disillusioned with the “money power” and favour-seeking systems of older parties. The study further elucidates the VPP’s utilisation of social media as an economically viable medium for voter outreach. By providing novel primary data, the paper concludes that the VPP’s success may signal a shift toward an electorate motivated by shared values, notably integrity. Ultimately, this research contributes to the study of regionalism and the evolving dynamics of democratic participation in North East India.