Seven lessons from Hiyanglam: 'NaMo' glitz is yet to be introduced into Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken

Imphal, October 20 2014: Hiyanglam By-poll from the very beginning of its election procedure has been significant on various counts.

One, the election scrutiny of the By-poll clearly depicted that there is no registered political party in the name of 'All India Trinamool Congress Manipur or All India Trinamool Congress Manipur State'.

It was indeed a cue to the ongoing tussle over the ownership of Trinamool Congress in the state between a group led by MLA Kh.

Joykishan and another under MLA Th.Shyamkumar, although it deems prejudice to comment on the matter.

Two, the existence of Manipur Pradesh Congress Party (MSCP) even after five MLAs had claimed its merger into the ruling Congress party in Manipur has been reproved as the Returning Officer of the By-election readily approved the nomination of MSCP candidate.

Hence, the question whether the erstwhile MSCP MLAs who have become INC MLAs now in the ruling Congress in Manipur has again haunted rank and file of the constitutional luminaries.

Modi with Chaoba

Still, the case is pending at the Speaker's desk for disposal.

Three, from all the campaign speeches rendered by our honourable political leaders including party chiefs, the right thinking citizens of Manipur can well realize the standard of our politicians.

Hiyanglam has revealed a tug of war between the BJP and Congress over the credit for bringing about a sports university in Manipur.

The reality is that Manipur deserves the ownership of sports universities and academies taking into account the eminence of its sportspersons.

No matter, whether it is Chaoba, Tomba, Ibobi or anyone else, Manipur gets what it deserves.

It is time to think over the modalities of the proposed institution, instead of fighting for the credit. Four, almost all Political parties except the Congress party loudly articulated their commitment to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) System in Manipur and also to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers act.

It is only during elections that political leaders boldly orated AFSPA and ILP as major election issues of the state.

They would be harping on such abbreviations which have become household words for the last few decades.

Five, BJP Manipur was daydreaming of a Model Village in Hiyanglam, when Manipur Chief Minister simply asked the voters "See what will happen in Hiyanglam, if Congress is voted to power".

It is amazing, politicians and celebrities of all hues, who had never been to that constituency, thronged Hiyanglam to beg votes for their candidates.

Who did actually want to develop Hiyanglam ?? Six, during the regime of Okram Ibobi Singh as Congress Chief Minister, INC won all the by-elections that were conducted in Manipur.

Except for the ruling Congress party, 'Die-in-Harness' in politics is not in vogue in Manipur as the BJP candidate, who is the son of former MLA M.Kunjo, finished third in the fight.

Seven, the so called Modi-wave which has swept all across India during the past few months has not intruded this state bounded by ranges of hills on all sides.

Those who have to fan in the wave from mainland India are in tussle over leadership race.

While the rest of India says "BJP with a difference", Manipur says "BJP with lots of differences.

Just after the election result was out, a prominent person in the state BJP has posted his comment in a social networking site as "It is not a wonder BJP lost it.

The Modi wave failed to hit the placid BAY OF LOKTAK LAKE........This is not money power ...no muscle power .....time calls for all the functionaries in BJP Manipur sit in cool manner and lick the bitter curd of Crystal fact of defeat and digest where it went wrong........no blame game...as a BJP man I humbly accept the defeat" .

The fact remains that the saffron party has to go a long way to build its base in the state.

All the expectations from the strategic and visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been reduced to a naught in Manipur, as they are nor well propagated and convinced among the voters.

As a first step, Manipur Pradesh BJP must try to introduce the visions of Narendra Modi to the people of Manipur in the language and gestures familiar to them.

Defeat in Hiyanglam signifies BJP is yet to touch the populace.