Newmai News Network
SENAPATI, January 24
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ome likeminded regional political parties in Manipur along with Naga People’s Front (NPF) are working out to field a common candidate in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.
NPF leaders informed Newmai News Network today that they have already consulted with three regional political parties in Manipur in this regard.When NNN contacted to confirm the reports, Athuan Abonmai, general secretary of the party in the state, answered in affirmative. “Yes, it is true, we have consulted three regional political parties in Manipur to field a common candidate in Outer seat of Manipur and the responses are encouraging,” Athuan Abonmai affirmed.
It is learnt by NNN that the name of the common candidate of these regional parties including the NPF will be declared next week.
Meanwhile, Naga People’s Front (NPF), Manipur State, has held its district level political conference on January 22 at Indoor Stadium, Tamenglong, as part of its campaign to the forth coming Lok Sabha poll.
Addressing the packed Indoor Stadium of Tamenglong, President of NPF Manipur State Soso Lorho attacked Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh and alleged that development funds are only ‘poured’ in Thoubal and Imphal’s Khwairamband bazar and nowhere else. Soso Lorho said Ibobi Singh is only interested in his district Thoubal adding most of the development funds are concentrated there. He also alleged that Ibobi Singh has not taken up developmental projects even in the valley districts except for few.
NPF leader has accused the Congress party of playing the communal card. Stating that NPF is the party that will bridge the gap between the rich and the valley, he said the gap between the rich and the poor is fast widening in the State under the Congress party.
Also addressing the gathering, NPF Manipur State vice president and former MLA from Tamei, N Awangbow, dwelt on the peoples’ inclination for the national party saying it is not a positive trend. Awangbow said, “We will enjoy more freedom in the regional parties than in the national parties.”
Terming Tamenglong district ‘human museum’ of the State government, N Awangbow alleged that the state government would often go to Delhi and beg for funds citing the district’s extreme backwardness which otherwise are utilised elsewhere.
NPF leaders from Senapati, Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul district and from Nagaland participated in the event. Meanwhile, former general secretary of Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) Paothing Vashum, who had joined the NPF fold recently, has been appointed as vice president of the NPF, Ukhrul Division, with immediate effect.
