Common nominee eludes Opposition

Bickering continues on Manipur bypoll

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Radhabinod Koijam (top) and P. Chandrashekhar Rao Imphal, Nov. 6: Opposition parties in Manipur are unlikely to field a common candidate against the ruling Congress party in the forthcoming byelection to the Yaiskul Assembly constituency in Imphal West. The Yaiskul Assembly constituency seat fell vacant following the demise of Congress member and deputy chairman of the state planning board E. Kunjeshore Singh. The Election Commission, however, is yet to fix a date for the byelection. The Opposition parties consider the byelection as a “referendum” to the popularity of the Okram Ibobi Sing government because of the ongoing agitation against the alleged fake encounter on July 23 in which passerby Rabina Devi and former militant Ch. Sanjit were killed. The Opposition parties got a morale booster with the Apunba Lup demanding Ibobi Singh’s resignation. They accused the chief minister of giving a free hand to the state forces. Taking advantage of the prevailing situation, the Opposition parties, including the BJP, Manipur Peoples Party, NCP and Manipur State Congress, thought that if they were united, they would have an edge over the ruling Congress in the forthcoming byelection. However, a consensus among the Opposition parties remains elusive, with the major players demanding that their candidate be accepted as the common nominee. The visit of BJP in-charge of the Northeast, P. Chandrashekhar Rao to Imphal, which concluded on Wednesday, was aimed at finding a common candidate for the Opposition parties. But after the discussions with the other players, Rao made it very clear that there was no consensus among them. “We are trying to field a common candidate. But if there is no consensus the BJP will put up its own candidate,” Rao said yesterday. Party sources said Rao’s announcement of fielding the BJP candidate was prompted by the belief that there would be any common consensus. Sources said the Manipur Peoples Party was insisting that its candidate should be accepted as the common one. The NCP, headed by former chief minister and leader of the Opposition Radhabinod Koijam, is also demanding that the party’s candidate should be accepted as the common nominee. However, the Opposition parties are fully aware that they do not have any chance against the ruling Congress if they are not united. “We know the odds. But if the Opposition parties are not able to find the most eligible candidate we do not have any alternative other than fielding candidates on our own,” a BJP leader said.