CPI decides to pull out from Manipur Ministry
IMPHAL: The Communist Party of India (CPI), which has been the ruling coalition partner for the last seven years, has decided to leave the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Ministry.
Sources in the CPI said that Minister of Health and Family Welfare Pheiroijam Parijat had been asked by the central committee of the party to tender his resignation.
N. Mangi, chairman, Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. with the rank and status of a minister of state, will also be submitting his resignation.
Police excesses alleged The former Minister from the CPI, Moirangthem Nara, who was the secretary of the SPF Steering Committee, resigned last week in protest against alleged excesses of policemen and the government’s ham-handed handling of the alleged fake encounter which left two persons, including a pregnant woman, dead and five others injured on July 23 in Imphal.
Senior CPI leaders said that for quite some time, the Chief Minister and other senior Ministers had not been taking the party into confidence on major issues. More recently, the Mr. Singh did not consult CPI leaders on the alleged fake encounter and its fallout. These ‘insulting dealings’ showed that he did not regard the CPI as a partner of the Ministry, they said.
Seven police commandos were suspended to protect the police high-ups, they said.
They also added that when a Chief Minister or a Minister made a misleading statement in the Assembly, he resigned on moral grounds. They were indirectly referring to the “misleading” statement of the Chief Minister in the Assembly on the fake encounters.
The CPI leaders are likely to call on Governor Gurbachan Jagat to demand the dismissal of Mr. Singh’s Ministry.
In the 60-member House, the Congress has 31 members and the CPI 4. Though dissidents had been demanding snapping ties with the CPI, the Chief Minister continued the coalition set-up for his political exigency.
Sources in the CPI said that Minister of Health and Family Welfare Pheiroijam Parijat had been asked by the central committee of the party to tender his resignation.
N. Mangi, chairman, Manipur Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. with the rank and status of a minister of state, will also be submitting his resignation.
Police excesses alleged The former Minister from the CPI, Moirangthem Nara, who was the secretary of the SPF Steering Committee, resigned last week in protest against alleged excesses of policemen and the government’s ham-handed handling of the alleged fake encounter which left two persons, including a pregnant woman, dead and five others injured on July 23 in Imphal.
Senior CPI leaders said that for quite some time, the Chief Minister and other senior Ministers had not been taking the party into confidence on major issues. More recently, the Mr. Singh did not consult CPI leaders on the alleged fake encounter and its fallout. These ‘insulting dealings’ showed that he did not regard the CPI as a partner of the Ministry, they said.
Seven police commandos were suspended to protect the police high-ups, they said.
They also added that when a Chief Minister or a Minister made a misleading statement in the Assembly, he resigned on moral grounds. They were indirectly referring to the “misleading” statement of the Chief Minister in the Assembly on the fake encounters.
The CPI leaders are likely to call on Governor Gurbachan Jagat to demand the dismissal of Mr. Singh’s Ministry.
In the 60-member House, the Congress has 31 members and the CPI 4. Though dissidents had been demanding snapping ties with the CPI, the Chief Minister continued the coalition set-up for his political exigency.
CPI, MPP to move EC for repoll
Imphal, April 26 : The CPI and the Manipur Peoples Party have sent representatives to New Delhi to petition the Election Commission with a plea for re-election.
Polls were held for the Manipur Inner seat on Wednesday amid allegations by these two parties about rampant rigging by the Congress.
A four-member MPP team, led by L. Chandramani Singh, left Imphal this afternoon to take up the issue of alleged rigging by the Congress in 11 booths in Imphal East with the Election Commission.
The MPP team also includes Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, the party candidate for the Inner seat, besides its MLAs Okram Joy Singh and L. Ibohalbi Singh.
“We will ask for help from NDA leaders for re-election at 11 booths in Andro. They will help us move the poll panel,” Chandramani Singh told this correspondent before leaving Imphal.
On the eve of the visit of a two-member team of the Left and Democratic Co-ordination Committee to Delhi, more than a hundred CPI workers today staged a sit-in at the Rising Athletics Union ground at Khurai in Imphal East demanding repolling in 16 booths.
The CPI state secretary, Langol Iboyaima, said the party candidate in the Inner seat Moirangthem Nara Singh and the CPM state secretary and co-convenor of the co-ordination committee, Ksh. Santa, would be leaving Imphal tomorrow for New Delhi.
The committee, comprising the CPI, CPM, RSP, Forward Bloc and the Janata Dal (Secular), will approach the Election Commission for repoll in the 11 Andro booths and in five others, three of which are in Thoubal Assembly constituency and one each in Patsoi Assembly segment and Khundrakpam Assembly constituency.
Rahul slams LF, says Bengal is more backward than UP
Mr Gandhi made these comments while addressing an election rally for the South Malda Congress candidate in English Bazaar town today.
In a second rally of the day in north Bengal at Malbazaar for the party's Jalpaiguri candidate Mr Sukhabilash Barma, Mr Gandhi said that the people were frustrated with Left Front misrule in the state. “While the whole country is heading towards a brighter future, the CPI-M has no intention to move with the pace. The West Bengal government has failed to implement Central projects like NREGA, Indira Awas Yojna etc. earmarked for the benefit of the people,” he alleged.
According to Mr Gandhi, West Bengal was behind Uttar Pradesh in terms of development. “Uttar Pradesh is lagging behind but while flying in I saw the dismal condition of this state and have to say West Bengal is behind UP in terms of development,” he said in Malda.
Mr Gandhi also criticised the NDA's former slogan, “India Shining.” “We cannot say India is shining if we cannot banish poverty. We cannot use this phrase when a farmer continues to languish below the poverty level and a child continues to remain out of primary school education,” he said.
Mr Rahul Gandhi's convention at Malbazaar indicates that the Congress leadership is targeting the tribal vote bank in the Dooars. The district Congress president Mr Biswaranjan Sarkar confirmed that Mr Gandhi is presently dealing with the problems of tribal people in India.
CPI talks of lone battle
Imphal, March 28 : The third front will sit in the Opposition and not join any group that will come to power in New Delhi after Lok Sabha elections. Announcing this today at the end of his three-day visit here, CPI leader A.B. Bardhan said: “We hope to fare well in the elections. If we cannot win majority of seats, we will not join the UPA or the NDA. We will play the role of the Opposition effectively. The decision is final.” Bardhan left this morning after campaigning for Moirangthem Nara Singh, the CPI candidate in the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency. The CPI leader kicked off Nara’s election campaign at a public meeting at Khuman Lampak on Wednesday and met the representatives of polling booth-level election committees of the party yesterday. The objective of the third front was to provide an alternative to the UPA and the NDA, the veteran Left leader said. “There cannot be a two-party system in India. We do not accept it because of the diversity of the country. There are regional aspirations and regional parties have a say in national politics.” When asked why the third front could not name its prime ministerial candidate, Bardhan said Prime Ministers were elected by the MPs and not by the electorate. “What is the point of announcing it now? There will not be any problem in choosing a leader by the MPs if the third front could muster a majority,” he argued. The CPI had been demanding scrapping of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, Bardhan said, adding his party would continue to do so until the act was scrapped. “We had spoken to Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then home minister Shivraj Patil and explained to them the need to scrap the act. But they did not listen to us.” The act enforced only in the Northeast and Kashmir had not only alienated the youths and harmed the people but failed to contain the problem of militancy, he added. “The stand of the CPI is clear. The act should be scrapped and the Jeevan Reddy Commission Report should be fully implemented.” Asked why the CPI continues to share power with the Congress in Manipur after it withdrew support from the UPA government at the Centre, Bardhan cited several reasons. He said Manipur is a border state that had never witnessed political stability for many years. The state also had multifarious problems, Bardhan added. “So the CPI decided to support the Congress to usher in political stability in Manipur. The CPI will continue to be in this arrangement in the state until the Congress tells us to leave.” The CPI and the Congress are having a friendly fight in the Inner Manipur seat. |
CPI for special status to Assam
Guwahati, MAR 20 : The CPI has demanded special status for Assam along the lines of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of Constitution to protect the identity of its people in the face of 'large scale infiltration from Bangladesh'.
"The state of Assam should be given special status and if need be the Constitution has to be amended as clause 6 of the Assam Accord says that the rights of the indigenous people of the state has to be protected," CPI national executive member Promod Gogoi said releasing the party's manifesto here. Calling for granting of photo identity cards for the voters in the state, he said this should be based on the Citizenship Act.
Mr. Gogoi alleged that the UPA government had failed to solve the outstanding problems of the state and asked for the implementation of the Justice K N Saikia Commission report on alleged acts of secret killings of Ulfa kins in the state.
"The commission's recommendation in dismantling of the army-led Unified Command Structure formed to combat insurgency and declaring ceasefire with militant groups should be accepted," he said.
Workers to vote against Congress
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Imphal, Feb 16 : Striking Manipur government employees are likely to vote against Congress and its partner, the CPI, in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections if the Secular Progressive Front coalition fails to take a decision on the employees’ demand before the polls.
About 60,000 state government employees under the banner of Joint Administrative Council of employees’ bodies have been on strike since November 27 last year demanding implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
Though the strike severely crippled functioning of the government departments, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who is also the finance minister, has not extended any invitation to the employees’ council for talks.
The chief minister said the present fiscal position of the state was not conducive to hiking the pay of the employees. He has made this announcement on a number of occasions during public addresses.
“The failure on the part of the chief minister has angered the employees. We are contemplating not to support the Congress and its partner, the CPI, in the Lok Sabha elections,” the publicity and information secretary of the employees’ council, L. Priyobratta said. The employees said their families would also support them.
The Congress is planning to field candidates in both the Inner and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies while the CPI is planning to contest the Inner constituency.
The pensioners, who are also demanding implementation of the pay commission’s recommendations, plan to take a similar stand against the ruling parties in Lok Sabha elections.
As part of their agitation, the employees will launch an “office shut down” from tomorrow.
“We will turn up at our offices on time, sign the attendance resisters, but we will not work as we are on strike. The employees will leave their respective offices at the stroke of 1pm daily,” Priyobratta said.
The decision to start the new “office shut down” phase came after conducting a series of sit-ins by the employees, which ended on January 30.
Sources said the council’s move to leave the office by 1pm was taken in view of the fact that senior officials were forcing the employees to work in spite of the strike. The council also asked visitors to leave government offices by 1pm.
“We will wait for response of the government for some more days. If we do not receive any response we may leave the offices by 11am or noon,” he said.
The employees’ council will also send memorandums to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, AICC president Sonia Gandhi and other Union ministers and MPs seeking their intervention in the matter.
Poll schedule : Outer likely in first phase
CEO interacts with political leaders
Imphal, February 12 : The State Chief Electoral officer (CEO) has conveyed to political leaders of the State regarding the election Commission of India's preparedness to complete election processes for the 15th lok Sabha within April.
interacting with representatives of political parties active in the State at the conference hall of Old Secretariat today, the CEO Sh Shambhu confided that in the first phase of the polling the Outer Manipur parliamentary seat and constituencies of Nagaland State might be included in the hustings.
Top political figures of the MSCP, Indian national Congress, CPI, CPI (M), BJP, MPP, RJD and NCP were present at the meeting presided by the CEO.
Sharing more information on the likely poll schedules, the cEO said with the Budget session of Parliament likely to commence on February 26/27, office of the CEC is targeting pre-monsoon season to hold parliamentary elections which is most likely to be scheduled within April 15 .
Out of the two Lok Sabha seats of Manipur the contest for Outer parliamentary constituency is certain to be enlisted in the first phase schedule as onset of rainy season would complicate election-related activities, the CEO explained adding that electorates of nagaland might also exercise their franchise right during the first phase.
Highlighting severe inconveniences during rainy season in the hill district areas, MSCP president RV Minthang proposed to the CEO for three-phase polling with two for Outer manipur Parliamentary seat and one for the valley areas (inner manipur constituency) .
Minthang also contended that assigning election observer for the Outer seat is inconsequently as in the past such measures hardly had an impact on the overall poll scenario.
He further desired that polling agents of respective candidates be allowed to guard EVMs when the machines are kept at office of the DC concerned.
Leaders of other political parties present at the meeting also preferred multiple (two) phase polling ahead of the monsoon season, strongly advocated sealing of EVMs, deployment of adequate security personnel for free and fair polling exercise, round the clock opening of an information centre with the presence of a responsible personnel at the DC's office to facilitate access by political parties on poll-related information and to ensure error-free electoral roll.
Commenting on the proposals, the cEO sought cooperation of the political parties in ensuring free and fair conduct of the polls while asserting that there would be no security related problem.
Elaborating on other details of the democratic exercise, Shambhu said out of the total of 2193 polling stations spread across the State, electorates of Imphal East district would cast votes in 355 polling stations, Imphal west will have 361, 297 in Bishnupur, Thoubal 191, Chandel 122, Ukhrul 164, senapati 318 and Tamenglong 130 while Churachandpur electorates would seal fate of the candidates in 289 polling stations.
Stringent measures would be adopted to ensure incident-free polling process with the use of video and digital cameras to record the proceedings, he added.
The CEO also called upon the political leaders to advise booth level officers and agents to contact and consult DCs and SDOs concerned 15 days ahead of the actual poll date/s to rectify any flaws detected in the electoral rolls.
LS polls tid-bits and others
* State has asked Centre to provide 86 Coys of Central Para-Military Force
* Four choppers requested
* 15 motor boats to be used for polling at Vangai Range and Tipaimukh
* 0.48 increase in number of voter, which is a drop from the 3 pc recorded earlier
* CEO has instructed all DCs and SPs to make sure that the telephones in all police stations are made okay.
Instructions given to repair all vehicles
* Election in Manipur likely before April 15 .
interacting with representatives of political parties active in the State at the conference hall of Old Secretariat today, the CEO Sh Shambhu confided that in the first phase of the polling the Outer Manipur parliamentary seat and constituencies of Nagaland State might be included in the hustings.
Top political figures of the MSCP, Indian national Congress, CPI, CPI (M), BJP, MPP, RJD and NCP were present at the meeting presided by the CEO.
Sharing more information on the likely poll schedules, the cEO said with the Budget session of Parliament likely to commence on February 26/27, office of the CEC is targeting pre-monsoon season to hold parliamentary elections which is most likely to be scheduled within April 15 .
Out of the two Lok Sabha seats of Manipur the contest for Outer parliamentary constituency is certain to be enlisted in the first phase schedule as onset of rainy season would complicate election-related activities, the CEO explained adding that electorates of nagaland might also exercise their franchise right during the first phase.
Highlighting severe inconveniences during rainy season in the hill district areas, MSCP president RV Minthang proposed to the CEO for three-phase polling with two for Outer manipur Parliamentary seat and one for the valley areas (inner manipur constituency) .
Minthang also contended that assigning election observer for the Outer seat is inconsequently as in the past such measures hardly had an impact on the overall poll scenario.
He further desired that polling agents of respective candidates be allowed to guard EVMs when the machines are kept at office of the DC concerned.
Leaders of other political parties present at the meeting also preferred multiple (two) phase polling ahead of the monsoon season, strongly advocated sealing of EVMs, deployment of adequate security personnel for free and fair polling exercise, round the clock opening of an information centre with the presence of a responsible personnel at the DC's office to facilitate access by political parties on poll-related information and to ensure error-free electoral roll.
Commenting on the proposals, the cEO sought cooperation of the political parties in ensuring free and fair conduct of the polls while asserting that there would be no security related problem.
Elaborating on other details of the democratic exercise, Shambhu said out of the total of 2193 polling stations spread across the State, electorates of Imphal East district would cast votes in 355 polling stations, Imphal west will have 361, 297 in Bishnupur, Thoubal 191, Chandel 122, Ukhrul 164, senapati 318 and Tamenglong 130 while Churachandpur electorates would seal fate of the candidates in 289 polling stations.
Stringent measures would be adopted to ensure incident-free polling process with the use of video and digital cameras to record the proceedings, he added.
The CEO also called upon the political leaders to advise booth level officers and agents to contact and consult DCs and SDOs concerned 15 days ahead of the actual poll date/s to rectify any flaws detected in the electoral rolls.
LS polls tid-bits and others
* State has asked Centre to provide 86 Coys of Central Para-Military Force
* Four choppers requested
* 15 motor boats to be used for polling at Vangai Range and Tipaimukh
* 0.48 increase in number of voter, which is a drop from the 3 pc recorded earlier
* CEO has instructed all DCs and SPs to make sure that the telephones in all police stations are made okay.
Instructions given to repair all vehicles
* Election in Manipur likely before April 15 .
CPI demands probe into Dantewada ‘encounter’
NEW DELHI, Jan. 22 : CPI leaders today met the President, Mrs Pratibha Patil, to seek a high-level judicial probe into the killing of 17 innocent tribals by Salwa Judum volunteers in a “fake encounter” in Dantewada in Chhatisgarh on 8 January.
The CPI national secretary, Mr D Raja, and member of the national executive, Mr C R Bakshi, handed over a memorandum to the President. Demanding dismantling of Salwa Judum, the CPI leaders said there were frequent fake encounters in the name of killing Naxalites.
In the Dantewada incident, independent journalists from Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh visited the site and filed several reports confirming the fake encounter.
The CPI memorandum said the spot was visited by the CPI district secretary, Mr Manish Kunjam, president of the All India Adivasi Mahasabha, and he too came to the conclusion that the killings were a fake encounter by the police.
The CPI national secretary, Mr D Raja, and member of the national executive, Mr C R Bakshi, handed over a memorandum to the President. Demanding dismantling of Salwa Judum, the CPI leaders said there were frequent fake encounters in the name of killing Naxalites.
In the Dantewada incident, independent journalists from Bhadrachalam in Andhra Pradesh visited the site and filed several reports confirming the fake encounter.
The CPI memorandum said the spot was visited by the CPI district secretary, Mr Manish Kunjam, president of the All India Adivasi Mahasabha, and he too came to the conclusion that the killings were a fake encounter by the police.
83rd anniversary of CPI foundation observed in Imphal
IMPHAL, Dec 27 : The 83rd anniversary of the establishment of the Communitst Party of India was held today at the Irawat Bhawan in Imphal organised by the agitation and propaganda department of the party.
Several dignitaries were present at the function including M Ibohal, chairman of the control commission of the CPI, P Parijat, health minister, L Iboyaima, state secretary of the CPI, B Sharma, state secretariat member of the CPI, N Mangi, MLA and state secretariat member of the CPI, Dr. M Nara Singh, state secretariat member of the CPI, Dr. H Borajao, MLA and Dr. U Deven, MLA.
Speaking at the inaugural function, L Sotinkumar, the assistant secretary of the CPI Manipur informed the gathering that the Communist Party of India was founded on December 26, 1925 in Kanpur with Hasrat Nishani as the chairman of the party.
The reason behind the forming of the party was to force the Britishers to leave India, he said.
According to Th Tomba, ex-minister and state executive member, Gandhiji believed that the Britishers were the most civilized but after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre Gandhiji changed his opinion and said that only socialism would do the work and not the Britishers. He also condemned the killings of Chauri Chaura.
Kh Surchand, state executive member of the CPI said that before the formation of the CPI the Congress had a big image but not afterwards.
Health minister P Parijat released a book named `Bharatta Communist Party` written by Th Yaiskul, a state executive member of the CPI, on the occasion.
The minister also mentioned the 1925 Kanpur conspiracy case and how the Communist Party of India was formed with the objective of removing all the Britishers from India.
Several dignitaries were present at the function including M Ibohal, chairman of the control commission of the CPI, P Parijat, health minister, L Iboyaima, state secretary of the CPI, B Sharma, state secretariat member of the CPI, N Mangi, MLA and state secretariat member of the CPI, Dr. M Nara Singh, state secretariat member of the CPI, Dr. H Borajao, MLA and Dr. U Deven, MLA.
Speaking at the inaugural function, L Sotinkumar, the assistant secretary of the CPI Manipur informed the gathering that the Communist Party of India was founded on December 26, 1925 in Kanpur with Hasrat Nishani as the chairman of the party.
The reason behind the forming of the party was to force the Britishers to leave India, he said.
According to Th Tomba, ex-minister and state executive member, Gandhiji believed that the Britishers were the most civilized but after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre Gandhiji changed his opinion and said that only socialism would do the work and not the Britishers. He also condemned the killings of Chauri Chaura.
Kh Surchand, state executive member of the CPI said that before the formation of the CPI the Congress had a big image but not afterwards.
Health minister P Parijat released a book named `Bharatta Communist Party` written by Th Yaiskul, a state executive member of the CPI, on the occasion.
The minister also mentioned the 1925 Kanpur conspiracy case and how the Communist Party of India was formed with the objective of removing all the Britishers from India.
CPI for Farmers Up By One Per Cent at 460
SHIMLA, Dec 20 : Consumer price indices for rural labourers and agricultural labourers rose by one point each to 460 in November on increase in prices of rice, milk, onion and fruits and vegetables.
Point to point inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL declined to 11.11 per cent in November from 11.14 per cent in October this year. Inflation based on CPI-AL was 6.15 per cent while that based on CPI-RL stood at 5.88 per cent in November last year, Labour Bureau sources said.
In six states the consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) rose between 5 and 7 points, in seven states between 1 and 4 points and the index remained constant in four states. CPI-AL fell three states by 2-4 points.
Punjab with 500 points topped the table of CPI-AL whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 404 points. In the case of rural labourers, CPI-RL increased between 1 and 4 points in six states, between 5 and 8 points in six states, and in four states it remai ned constant.
CPI-RL declined by 1-4 points in four states. Punjab with 499 points topped the table whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 405 points. The consumer price indices for agricultural labourers and rural labourers registered the highest increase of 7 and 8 points, respectively, in Karnataka mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, jowar, ragin, arhar dal, milk, onion, vegetables and fruits, tea readymade, pan leaf and bus fare.
On the other hand, Orissa recorded a maximum fall of 4 points each for CPI-AL and CPI-RL mainly due to decrease in the prices of rice, mustard oil and vegetables and fruits.
Point to point inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL declined to 11.11 per cent in November from 11.14 per cent in October this year. Inflation based on CPI-AL was 6.15 per cent while that based on CPI-RL stood at 5.88 per cent in November last year, Labour Bureau sources said.
In six states the consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) rose between 5 and 7 points, in seven states between 1 and 4 points and the index remained constant in four states. CPI-AL fell three states by 2-4 points.
Punjab with 500 points topped the table of CPI-AL whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 404 points. In the case of rural labourers, CPI-RL increased between 1 and 4 points in six states, between 5 and 8 points in six states, and in four states it remai ned constant.
CPI-RL declined by 1-4 points in four states. Punjab with 499 points topped the table whereas Manipur was at the bottom with 405 points. The consumer price indices for agricultural labourers and rural labourers registered the highest increase of 7 and 8 points, respectively, in Karnataka mainly due to increase in the prices of rice, jowar, ragin, arhar dal, milk, onion, vegetables and fruits, tea readymade, pan leaf and bus fare.
On the other hand, Orissa recorded a maximum fall of 4 points each for CPI-AL and CPI-RL mainly due to decrease in the prices of rice, mustard oil and vegetables and fruits.
‘Resurgent’ MPP out to dent Cong fortress
Imphal, Dec 17 : The Congress, which heads the Secular Progressive Front coalition, is in for a tough fight from a “resurgent” Manipur Peoples Party (MPP), the oldest regional party in the state, in the Moirang Assembly byelection.
The polling is slated for December 27 at the constituency in Bishnupur district.
The Congress is fielding Mairembam Prithiviraj Singh, a political greenhorn against “seasoned” candidate Hemam Bira Singh of the MPP.
While Prithiviraj Singh is the son of Congressman Manindra Singh, whose demise in October led to the holding of the byelection, Bira Singh is the son of Nilamani Singh, who was a founder member of the MPP and served the party in the capacity of president in the seventies.
“Barack Obama brought about a change in America. We can also bring about a change in Manipur,” said Thounaoba Chaoba Singh, a former Union minister of state for youth affairs and sport.
Moirang is traditionally a stronghold of the Congress where the MPP managed to win the seat twice in the past. Bira Singh himself contested twice on MPP tickets. In the last election, he came second.
Though Prithiviraj is contesting the election for the first time, he is no stranger to politics, having grown up with it. His grandfather Koireng Singh was the chief minister of Manipur in the mid-sixties.
However, the MPP with support from the BJP, is hoping to put up a stiff fight in the bypoll.
“It is a fight for a change in the system, administration and politics that could lead to better living conditions and opportunities for the people. It is a fight between people versus an anti-people system,” Okram Joy Singh, senior leader and one of the best parliamentarians of the state, said.
In the run-up to the next parliamentary elections, both the MPP and Congress are competing for holding the maximum number of political conferences. “We know the fight for Moirang is tough. But our rival will have to put up a good fight to defeat us,” Chandramani Singh said.
On the other hand, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh shrugged off the “threat”, saying no party could rule Manipur better than the Congress. He also promised better infrastructure in Moirang.
However, the MPP would stand to gain from the BJP support. Two former chief ministers R.K. Dorendro Singh and Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh had joined the BJP recently. While the BJP does not have any MLA, the MPP has five members.
While the support by coalition partner CPI to the Congress is a foregone conclusion, the Opposition NCP is expected to vote for the MPP.
The state NCP president R.B. Koijam, however, said his party had decided not to join the campaigns of either side.
