Vizhutuan People's Party

The Vizhutuan People's Party (Sarwabhasa: TBA; VPP) was a dominant political party in mid-to-late 20th century Vizhutua. Led by the Raijar family, Cairo (1944-1972), son Rafiq (1973-1986), and grandson Bhaswar (1986-2000), the VPP consistently dominated elections and won majority governments and was the ruling party from 1944 to 2000. It advocated Raiyarism, an egalitarian political ideology based on Cairo Raijar's policies.

In 2000, following the resignation of Bhaswar Raijar due to the Kheng Tin scandal, the VPP merged with the VSWP.

Beginnings (-1919)
The Vizhutuan People's Party has its roots in the radical People's Party, which was founded in 1911 on a basis of anti-corruption, anti-monarchism, progressivism, and reformism. In 1919, moderates from the People's Party split and formed the VPP.

Early victories (1919-1943)
Originally, the VPP was more liberal and from 1926 to 1929 it ruled the country under Prime Minister Bharat de Silva as a minority government. J. R. V. Chaudhary, who was Prime Minister from 1934 to 1939, led the party to a more centrist position.

Cairo Raijar era (1943-1972)
In 1943, Cairo Raijar was elected leader of the VPP, and in 1944, led the party to its first out of many election victories. Raijar's premiership was marked by political stability and economic growth. He constructed the Vizhutuan economic miracle of the 1950s and 1960s, released political prisoners from the Widodo regime, helped create the Federation of Nesiondalsan States (FNOS), joining Vizhutua in the Non-Aligned Movement, and regularly criticized both capitalism and communism.

It was at this time that the VPP had near complete influence in Vizhutuan society. Although Vizhutua wasn't a one-party state, almost all government employees were members of the VPP.

Continued dominance (1972-1999)
In 1972, Raijar died, but the VPP continued to form majority governments. In 1973, parliament was dissolved and a snap election was called just to let Raijar's son, Rafiq, become Prime Minister. The number of seats decreased, but the VPP was able to continue forming majority governments. The VPP started to slowly decrease in number of seats following the 1980-81 Vizhutuan floods, of which the government reacted slowly and provided insufficient aid, resulting in the deaths of 10,000 people.

In 1984, the VPP joined, and in 1990, became a founding member of the Ondalsan Centrist Union.

Scandal and merger (1999-2000)
In December 1999, popular Prime Minister Bhaswar Raijar was revealed to have ties to the Tsanakarunese criminal gang Kheng Tin. Naturally, he and the VPP denied it, but as 2000 went on more and more reports were made. Parliament was dissolved on July 27, 2000, and Raijar resigned on August 2.

The scandal was so shameful that the VPP and former rival VSWP merged the next day.