IMPHAL: Former Union minister and leader of Manipur People's Party (MPP) Thounoujam Chaoba has stated that the next government would be formed by non-Congress parties.

On Saturday, Manipur went to the polls to elect 60 legislators - 40 in the valley and 20 in the hills.

"The ruling Congress will bite the dust in the just concluded polls. According to our assessment, Congress would hardly win 10 seats in the valley areas. This means that the remaining 30 seats would be grabbed by non-Congress parties," Chaoba said at a media conference here on Tuesday evening.

"The like-minded non-Congress parties, which would come out victorious from the hills, would definitely join the opposition front to form the next government," he added. The MPP is one of the key member of the People's Democratic Front ( PDF), the grand pre-poll opposition alliance set up to take on and defeat the ruling Congress. Other members of the front are NCP, CPI (M), JD(U) and RJD. The front fielded its common candidates in 43 constituencies.

Though BJP is not a member of the front, the party and MPP shared seats in some constituencies, including Thoubal, the home constituency of chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Chaoba, who contested from Nambol constituency in Bishnupur district, alleged that some Congress workers and the brother-in-law of his arch rival candidate, N Loken Singh, who is also a minister, threatening his workers.

"On false charges of having nexus with underground organizations hurled by these men, our workers and even my election agent were pulled up by the police but after proper verification they were released later. We urge the DGP to hold a probe into the reign of terror unleashed by them and take necessary legal action," said Chaoba.

On Monday, BJP national general secretary Tapir Gao ,while expressing strong confidence of winning 45 seats by the opposition parties, urged non-Congress parties to unite for taking on the ruling Congress.

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has come under friendly fire for her promise to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur if Trinamool Congress is voted to power in that state.

After party MP Kabir Suman accused her of shedding crocodile tears for Irom Sharmila, rights activists - who were once government-appointed mediators with Maoists - slammed her on Tuesday for making empty promises.

Mamata's pledge to do away with AFSPA is little more than an electoral promise with no practical value, civil rights activists in Kolkata say.

"Mamata Banerjee has tried to woo Manipur voters with these statements but they have no practical value. When she has not succeeded in withdrawing the joint forces from Jangalmahal, how can she even think of repealing AFSPA even if she does win the mandate in Manipur?" said rights activist Sujato Bhadra.

The AFSPA is very difficult to do away with, Bhadra remarked. "The Jeevan Reddy Committee, set up to review the Act after Manorama Devi's death in Manipur, recommended repeal of AFSPA but nothing happened. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has been fighting to repeal the act for several years but has not succeeded. The lobby in favour of AFSPA is simply too strong. How can Mamata even consider changing the situation at her level," Bhadra asked.

Chhoton Das, who was a mediator between the government and the Maoists till Kishanji's death, remarked that politicians seldom keep their promises. "Many of the statements made by politicians before elections seem to be very positive. At the end of the day, none of the commitments are kept. There is no exception to this. This has become a rule in this country. Politicians have a consistent record so far as breaking of promises is concerned," he said.

Bhadra pointed out that Mamata had done nothing to release those detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act in Bengal. "During a meeting with us, the chief minister said that she would not be able to withdraw the joint forces from Jangalmahal but she promised to release the UAPA detainees. Though the crackdown under this Act has stopped, none of the detainees have been releases yet. In December, we sent a fresh list of people falsely implicated under this Act but the government didn't take any action," he said.

On Republic Day, Kabir Suman had criticized Mamata for drawing a parallel between her 26-day fast during the Singur agitation and Irom Sharmila's epic 10-year fast against AFSPA in Manipur. "The fact is the state government neither forced her (Mamata) to break her strike nor arrested her. On the other hand, Irom Sharmila was arrested by the Army in the beginning and then she was forced to eat by using tubes," Suman wrote in his blog.

The singer-composer pointed out that Sharmila's name never once came up during Mamata's fast at Esplanade. Kabir Suman goes on to criticize Mamata's failure in withdrawing joint forces from Jangalmahal. In fact, most of his blogs in the last few months have gone against Mamata. He has written not only against the police firing at Mograhat that killed two persons but also composed a song for the farmers who have committed suicide due to debt.

IMPHAL: West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met Manipur's 'Iron lady' Irom Sharmila Chanu and promised her that if Trinamool Congress (TMC) comes to power in the state, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) will be withdrawn.

After landing at Imphal airport at 1.50 pm, Mamata drove straight to J N Hospital, where Sharmila is being forcibly fed through the nose for the past 11 years. "We recognize your struggle and your plight. I want Manipur to smile. If TMC comes to power, we will remove AFSPA," Mamata told Sharmila. The Iron Lady has been on a fast demanding the repeal of AFSPA from the state for over a decade now. Sharmila told Mamata that AFSPA is a draconian law and she will continue her fast till it is withdrawn from Manipur.

Later, addressing TMC's election rally at Langjing Achouba ground in Imphal West, Mamata became the first prominent leader who seriously sought votes on the AFSPA issue. "If Trinamool forms the next government, we will not allow any Army rule in Manipur. I love Army, but I am against policies making wrong use of the Army. Army rule cannot continue for so long. We need peace and for that a concrete political policy is needed," she said, amid applause by 10,000 Trinamool supporters.

By raising the point of lifting the act, which gives absolute powers to armed forces personnel, Mamata has joined the anti-AFSPA campaign despite UPA-II government's non-committal stand on the act. TMC is a key ally in the UPA-II government. The Centre has been unable to lift or amend the act due to stiff opposition by the defence ministry, though the home ministry has trying to find a consensus in bringing some amendment to the act.

Launching an attack against the ruling Congress-CPI government, Mamata said, "If the ruling parties cannot perform, it's time now to throw them out and give a chance to another party."

She said she had last visited Manipur 10 years ago and said the state is now in a horrible condition. "I don't understand why the government has failed to deliver. Manipur has got 90 per cent subsidy from the Centre," she said. In a people-connect bid, Mamata began her speech with a few lines in Manipuri, "Nungshijara-ba praja, echil-enao, Trinamool Congress ta vote pibiyu, vote at Lei and Napi (My beloved people, brothers and sisters, please vote for Trinamool Congress on the flower and grass symbol)."

Highlighting her achievements in West Bengal during the last eight months, she said her government has released many prisoners from jail including KLO militants. "We have allocated a development package for Jungle Mahal," Mamata said, clearly indicating her seriousness to tackle the insurgency problem in Manipur. Trying to woo militants and their families, she said, "We will also release all political prisoners in Manipur, if elected to power. If Darjeeling can smile now, Manipur should also smile," she said.

Trinamool is fielding 47 candidates in this assembly election and is considered a dark horse. Mamata's rally is all set to boost the morale of the party, which at present does not have any prominent political figure in the state. Many Manipur TMC members are young and include former student leaders. "I want a green Manipur. Green depicts peace, development and progress," she said.

She highlighted Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Imphal campaign and reminded that Netaji's INA hoisted the national Tricolour for the first time on Indian soil at Moirang in Manipur.