Will Okram Ibobi returns back as Chief Minister?
- Imphal Times Editorial :: October 13 2016 -

It’s still early, but the new development in the political theatre of the state throws out an air of suspicion on whether the present Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is in the post for three consecutive terms, still have the potential of returning back to power in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly is now the talk of every politically conscious people.

BJP’s massive victory in the last Parliamentary election and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sincerity and accountability and his success in grappling the sentiments of the people of the country at some specific issues like national security and his thrashing knockout blow the Congress regime has now make the party even more popular among the people of the country.

States in North East part of India who have insignificant numbers of elected representatives to the Parliament, have also reached the wave that is spreading across the nation and we in these region had witness how the BJP had managed to root out the Congress regime even before election is conducted.

We are talking about how the Congress led government has been rooted out from Arunachal Pradesh after the Congress Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with 42 other Congress MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Party defected and joined the Regional People’s Party of Arunachal, which is an ally of the BJP to form an alternative government with external supports from the BJP some months back.

Congress Party under the leadership of Gandhi family has been crumbled in almost all parts of the country except for the state of Manipur as of now.

This is known to everybody and every aspirant politician are now opting the BJP as their top priority political party and some chose the regional political parties.

However it is crystal clear that every candidates and politically sensible people knows that Manipur’s politics is totally dependent to the political party who hold power in the government.

Anti incumbency factor is always a problem for a political party who is in power for continuous 2 or 3 years.

As for Okram Ibobi Singh, he is the luckiest Chief Minister ever rule the state. There are many veteran politicians who are much more experience in running the government but Okram Ibobi is different, almost every crises arises during his time was solved with timely introduction of certain laws – say for example the introduction of the 10th Scheduled.

As per records , Okram Ibobi is about 68 years old. He was born on July 19, 1948 to Okram Angoubi Singh at Thoubal Athokpam Ward No. 7.

Ibobi was first elected in 1984-85 State Assembly election from Khangabok Assembly Constituency as Independent candidate. After being elected he joined the Indian National Congress and since then he has been time and again elected however defeated only once and later in 2002 Okram Ibobi was again re-elected as representative of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Election from Khangabok Assembly Constituency.

It was indeed by fate that he became the chief Minister of Manipur in that year. Horse trading of politician, which was a major factor to the failure of stable government at any states.

But when Ibobi was supposed to land in trouble the Parliament passed the Anti Defection Law under the 10th Schduled of the Indian Constitution and it was this very provision that Ibobi’s position was strengthen and he managed to hold the post of Chief Minster for 3 consecutive years i.e., 15 years.

15 years is a long year and there are many things that people are not satisfied with the running of the government even though they claimed to have done many good things. This is because no people are fool, yes they are sometimes but they can’t be fooled all the time.

It is indeed too early to say whether Ibobi will return back as Chief Minister, but one thing which is sure is that he still has the capability of returning back as MLA.

Meanwhile, the departure of some strongmen from the congress party is another factors that need to be deliberated.

As of now MLA Biren of Heingang Assembly Constituency, the onetime Minister in the Ibobi led Congress Government and who was recently elected as the Vice President and spokesperson of MPCC, did not announced about his decision to join any party.

But Imphal Times had already reported that BJP had rolled out Red-Carpet for the Congress leader who had resigned MLA ship as well as the congress party showing anguish over the ruled of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi. For Y Erabot, former Minister of the Congress Government too have leaved the party and joined the Congress party.

The latest is former Minister in the Congress Government, Franchis Ngajokpa. As according to the desires of his workers, Ngajokpa is sure to resign for the Manipur Legislative Assembly and perhaps there is no wrong in speculating that Mr. Fanchis Ngajokta may opt the BJP.

Election trends are changing, declaring Chief Ministerial candidate now is considered as an effective tool, it is likely that the BJP may announce its Chief Ministerial candidate followed by second legislature wing leader.

If the person announced is peoples’ choice then BJP might chart out an effective strategy to win at least majority seat in the upcoming poll.

In 2002, Ibobi became the Chief Minister with only 20 MLAs. And why not for BJP if they have the similar numbers which is assumptive.

After all the party is in the center and people have already seen how the BJP will strive hard to have a BJP led government as seen in Arunachal Pradesh.