Imphal, February 05: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, while setting aside other political parties� prospects in the ensuing Assembly election, has claimed that the Congress will retain power again.

Speaking on the occasion of the visit of AICC president Sonia Gandhi at Kodompokpi ground the CM said the prospects of other political parties - MPP, BJP, RJD and others are very poor.

Deriding the MPP�s poll prospect, the CM said, �in Thoubal Constituency having ten Assembly segments not even a single seat will go to them �.

Likewise in Bishnupur having six constituencies their result will be nil and there is no hope for them in the hills.

They may retain four to five at the most overall, he speculated.

Those who tried in vain to get the Congress tickets are now contesting on MPP tickets and now this same bunch have started criticising the Congress , Okram said adding � this is their habit�.

Ridiculing the promise of MPP that AFSPA would be lifted if they are voted to power, the Chief Minister said they can trumpet these false promises to the people because they wouldn�t be able to achieve power.

�In reality we lifted the Act from the Imphal municipal areas during our full five year tenure and we also are also attempting to lift the same from the rest of the State�, said Ibobi.

The CM nevertheless pointed out that the Act would automatically go when there is no violence, extortion, kidnappings and killings by the militants.

While pointing out the development works taken up by his Government, Okram recalled the economic packages announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to the State in December last year.