Congress fires salvo at partner CPI

Imphal, April 19: Taking a dig against its coalition partner in the SPF, Chief Minister O Ibobi today asked intriguingly in which constituency the CPI is going to lead the vote count in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing an election related meetings for Congress candidate Dr T Meinya today at Khurai Popular High School, Ibobi unleashed a charged diatribe against the CPI saying that the party is speaking anything immaturely without doing any work.

He wonders what the CPI is going to do with just a handful of MPs while adding that the party has approached the Congress but the Congress refused to accept allegiance with it as the party is known for its verbalisation without any deed.

Pulling up his sleeves, O Ibobi said that the Congress will teach befitting lessons to the oppositions this time.

Singing his own paean, Chief Minister Ibobi said that the Congress is able to be in power for the last seven years due solely to the support and affection garnered by the people.

He said that several developmental works had already been achieved and some are yet to be fulfilled in the state.

He calls for the people's cooperation towards the fulfillment of the pending works and to strengthen the party.

Playing the Aam Admi card, Ibobi said that it is predictable that the UPA government at the Centre will retain power with the support of many poor voters whom the Congress-led government is trying to uplift.

As such, he said, developmental works in the state will be able to pace up if two Congress MPs from the state are sent in the Parliament while urging the people to cast their vote in favour of Congress candidate Dr T Meinya in the coming election to the Lok Sabha.

Veteran Congressman and sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur, Rishang Keishing said that it will be wrong to assert that Manipur was merged into India forcibly.

He recalled that the movement to merge Manipur with India was spearheaded by the Congress even upto the extent of some members landing behind the bar.

He said that the people are freed now after Manipur was merged with the Indian Union.

Going on the offensive against the 'liberation struggle/movement,' Rishang Keishing said that the 'so-called liberation movement' is a misnomer and added that they are contesting to get more money, more contract works.

He said it would be fine if they surrendered by admitting their fault to Ibobi.

He called to shun the path of making competition to get more money and contacts while appealing to tread the path of development.

Flexing muscle against the SPF partner CPI, Rishang advises the CPI to remain silent while asking how the two parties can form a government if the CPI goes hammer and tongs against its partner just when the election time is round the clock.

Urging the people not to trust the childish utterance of the CPI, Rishang also appealed the people to vote for the Congress so as to usher in development in the state.

Eulogising the feats of the Congress government in Manipur, MPCC President Gaikhangam also persuaded the people to strengthen the party and vote in favour of the party in the coming Lok Sabha election.

Similar meetings were also held today at various places in inner constituency including Kanglatongbi Mandir ground in Sekmai AC, Heingang Makha Kangjeibung, Wangkhei Puja Lampak under Yaiskul AC, and Nganappi Thong under Keishamthong AC.

The meetings were attended among others by PHED Minister TN Haokip, IFCD Minister N Biren, TD Minister DD Thaisii and the Congress candidate in the inner Manipur, Dr T Meinya.

Ibobi’s Inner seat campaign sinks rift

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.”

Rahul Gandhi to address election rally in Churachandpur

Imphal, Apr 2 : The General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), Rahul Gandhi who is scheduled to arrive here on Thursday will also address an election rally at Peace Ground, Tuibuong in Churachandpur for Congress candidate of the outer Manipur, Thangso Baite.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to arrive at Imphal on April 2.He is scheduled to address election rallies in Churachandpur and Imphal the same day.

He will also held meeting with the MPCC leaders to thrash out issues concerning the upcoming election.

He is likely to have a night halt and leave Imphal the next day, according to source from the MPCC.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) was convened today at the Chief Minister's bungalow here discussing matter relating to the visit of AICC General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi.

The meeting was also attended by the Congress candidate for the outer Manipur constituency, Thangso Baite.

The meeting had a detailed discussion over the adoption of various political strategies for the coming Lok Sabha election.

It has also reportedly suggested various poll strategies for the coming election in the wake of the MPP replacing its candidate for the ensuing election, the source disclosed.