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| Ibobi Singh |
Imphal, April 10 : The Congress led by Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh flagged off the party’s election campaign by putting up a united show in the Inner seat — the home turf of party candidate Thokchom Meinya Singh — a nominee the chief minister had not approved of in the first place.
Meinya Singh is seeking re-election from the seat.
Ibobi Singh who was earlier in favour of Irengbam Hemochandra Singh, the MLA from Singjamei, today hoisted the party flag at the Khumbong residence of Meinya Singh in Imphal West district in the presence of almost all the ministers and the MLAs.
He later flagged off the campaign with a meeting at a community hall.
Heavy rain early this morning forced the party start the programme two hours behind schedule. The Congress supporters, however, braved the rain and turned up at Meinya Singh’s residence on time. Hemochandra Singh was not only present but also addressed the rally.
“We are united and one. We will win both the seats,” Hemochandra Singh said and the crowd burst into applause.
The rally was also attended by PCC president Gaikhangam.
While the rival candidates launched their election campaign two weeks in advance, the Congress could not kick off its campaign in the Inner seat because of differences within the PCC over the candidates to be fielded. Ibobi Singh and his supporters pushed for Hemochandra Singh.
The Opposition was prompt to grab the opportunity to dub the Congress a divided house.
In reply to charges levelled by rival parties, Ibobi Singh said: “It was during the NDA rule that the Centre tried to break up Manipur. Thounaojam Chaoba Singh was a minister at the Centre at that time. The Congress-led UPA stands for the territorial integrity of Manipur.”
He was reacting to allegations made by Chaoba Singh and his Manipur People’s Party that the Congress had no clear stand on the issue of Manipur’s boundary.
Exuding confidence, Ibobi Singh said his party with 19 MLAs in the Inner seat, comprising 32 Assembly segments, would win.
Tearing into rival candidates, Ibobi Singh called them “party hoppers”.
“Voters should reject candidates who hop parties. These people have taken up politics as a business venture. This will be of no good for the people,” Ibobi Singh said.
Reacting to allegations that his government was standing in the way of removing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Ibobi Singh said: “The prevailing situation needs strong measures to restore law and order. Once normality is restored, there will no further need to remove the act. It will naturally go.”