Northeast
Manipur Congress party announces pre-poll alliance
Our Correspondent
Imphal, Jan. 27 (EMN): The opposition Congress party and five political parties in Manipur on Thursday announced a pre-poll alliance for upcoming Assembly elections on February 27 and March 3.
The five political parties are CPI, CPI (M), Revolutionary Socialist Party, Janata Dal (S) and Forward Block.
Disclosing this in a press conference at the Congress Bhavan in Imphal, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Nameirakpam Loken Singh said that the step has been taken to root out the BJP-led government from Manipur after the elections.
Stating that the alliance will work hard for the victory of their common candidates, MLA Loken said that the Congress will support the CPI candidate in Khurai seat while Congress candidate and CPI candidate will have a ‘friendly contest’ in the Kakching seat.
CPI is fielding RK Amusana in Khurai in Imphal East district while the Congress candidate Ksh Kennedy and CPI candidate Y Roma will have a friendly contest in Kakching in Kakching district.
Echoing a similar feeling, CPI Manipur state secretary Laishram Sotinkumar said that the Communist party will do ‘maximum sacrifice’ in order to have a new government next.
Former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that formation of the alliance with like-minded parties in the state is not new.
He also appealed to the people to extend maximum support for the common candidates of the alliance. Congress Working Committee member Gaikhangam, CPI(M) state unit leader Ksh Santa Singh, RSP state unit secretary K Manoranjan, Representative of Forward Block Kh Gopeshwar were also present in the day’s press conference.
On January 22, the Congress party had announced names of 40 candidates for the Assembly elections in Manipur. Out of them, 12 are sitting MLAs, nine are ex-MLAs while the rest 19 are new faces.
Similarly National People’s Party, a coalition party of the BJP-led government had also announced names of 20 candidates recently .But the ruling BJP is yet to announce its list till date.
It may be mentioned that former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led a Secular Progressive Front Government in Manipur with the support of the left front from 2002 to 2017.