Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, October 08:
Two new regional political parties have been floated in the past week as political activity intensifies ahead of the next elections to the state assembly, expected to be held sometime early next year.
Former chief minister and founding president of Manipur State Congress Party, MSCP, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, floated a new political party, christened the Manipur People�s Conference on October 5 last, along with former Speaker Karam Babudhon, former finance minister Laishom Lalit, and former Rajya Sabha MP BD Behring and a number of former ministers and MLAs.
The Democratic Revolutionary People�s Party, which was established two years back, has also shed its old skin, and has been rechristened as the Democratic People�s Party, with advocate Khaidem Mani as its new president.
Former chief minister W Nipamacha, addressing media persons today, outlined his new party�s aims and objectives, stating that it would work towards an egalitarian society and to bring about a true �Sana Leipak�.
He said the MPC would combat corruption and work for a clean and efficient administration, observing that Manipur is in trouble, facing problems of all kinds, and there is no progress in any field.
He also pledged that the new party would work for improvement of the state�s finances, with greater emphasis on agriculture.
He further indicated that the new party would pursue a poll alliance with the Communist Party of India.
Addressing another press conference, Khaidem Mani said the Democratic People�s Party would usher in a new Manipur, and fill the political vacuum created after the rejection of established political parties and their leaders by the people of Manipur in the context of the controversy over the extension of the India-NSCN (IM) ceasefire.
Stating that the members of the DPP have embarked upon a mission rather than entered a profession, Mani said they saw themselves as a party that would form a stable government that would not beg from New Delhi but instead demand its rightful claim and share in the national building process.
He pledged that the party would work to bring a complete halt to the politics of betrayal that has dominated life in Manipur in the recent past, and to do its utmost to bring about thru emotional integration of the state while safeguarding its territorial integrity.