Congratulations to the Winners: Hats off to INC in Manipur

JC Sanasam *

Election result scene across Imphal on eve of election result day on March 06 2012 :: Pix - Victo Singh

We are all very familiar with the innumerable sit-in-protests, public rallies, Meira Paaiibee torch rallies at night and many other similar movements. But at the back of their mind, they are very fond of being nearer to the people of the higher-up, those would-be-individuals who would be in power.

May be it was no wonder to many of the Congressmen and political analysts of Manipur that the Congress came out with a winning figure in the recent poll to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly; but this spectacular near-sweeping history-making victory was undoubtedly beyond anybody's hope or guess including those of the echelon in the party itself.

All credit should go to CLP leader, Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, the Chief Minister and the state President of the party Shri Gaikhangam. We also should give some loud claps to ISTV for their attempts to give a good coverage throughout the duration of counting of the votes although there were some audio system disorders from time to time and also though they could not show visual digital figures continually like the national channels Times Now, NDTV and others did. These latter channels could even show the result-figures of the count much ahead of our local ISTV.

Maybe each of the results was sent to the office of the CEO for approval before it was made known or declared locally here. It was our pride to see Pradip Phanjoubam also among the exit-poll analysts in the CNN IBN programs; first time for a journalist from Manipur, perhaps.

It was very interesting to listen to the various opinions and observations; some of them trying to figure out why and how the Congress candidates turned out victorious so smoothly. Perhaps, one particular factor they did not mention, very relevant though, is the mind-set of the public.

The public in Manipur are very conscious of social issues, moral values, public grievances, human rights matters and the like. We are all very familiar with the innumerable sit-in-protests, public rallies, Meira Paaiibee torch rallies at night and many other similar movements.

But at the back of their mind, they are very fond of being nearer to the people of the higher-up, those would-be-individuals who would be in power. It is obvious for a larger section of the population that their second thoughts ultimately take the upper hand at the time of casting their votes.

They like their local MLA's to be a minister or somebody in the ruling party. Because when some of their near kith and kin seek for a job, a local MLA in the Opposition can hardly do anything. But a Minister or an MLA in the Ruling has some influence to be able to help them reach their bribe-money to the aimed target.

In Manipur a politician who can bring a job or some favour to people, maybe surely with bribery, is much more popular than another who works for the local or for the state development and progress. Manipur people are all a very individualized lot. The electorates perhaps did have the inkling that the Congress would come back to power and it would be best for them to vote for the one to be likely in power.

One positive aspect also could be seen from among those who were in the discussion that was on the screen. Some of them were great activists and enthusiasts who constantly had given strong rhetoric against the blunders and incidences and how the government dealt with such crises. But as good broad-minded Samaritans, they seemed to rejoice themselves when the Congress proved to be the winners to remain in power and continue to form the next government.

Some other nice episodes were when some of those victorious had to say when they were interviewed by the ISTV reporters for short moments.

Some of the bests were Shri RK Anand of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, Shri Laisom Ibomcha of Keishamthong and Ms Mirabai of Patsoi. We need intellectual people of grit and personality like them for our government.

Well, we definitely would like to congratulate all, who got elected, and would also like to take our hats off especially to the Congress candidates who won. We are sure they heard what many mentioned about: the priorities Manipur public want them to do: availability of twenty four-hour-electricity as seen in any other mediocre state even, uninterrupted safe hygienic water in every house, good connectivity of roads, national as well as state highways, inter and intra-village and neighbourhood roads.

Now, we have a strong belief that they will perform according to what public vindicate.

Hail to the new government!

(This write-up was written at the end of the day of the vote-counting before any knowledge of the formation of the new government and the leader's team)