Customary pat to Aleng's Cong bid
Source: The Sangai Express
Ukhrul, November 13 2011:
With the Manipur State Legislative Assembly election scheduled sometime early next year more intending candidates from Ukhrul have joined the band wagon seeking Congress ticket.
In a Mingkazai Kazip, the customary invocation gathering, organised by the ten royal clans of Ukhrul (Hunphun Awungshi Shimshang vathei thara) at Mission ground Ukhrul today, former youth Congress leader Aleng AS Shimray was endorsed to contest the coming State Legislative Assembly election on a Congress ticket.
The Headman of Ukhrul Wungrampan, in his speech, read out by the Secretary of Hunphun/Ukhrul Dan Mung, said Ukhrul has no objection to Aleng Shimray's attempt to contest the coming Legislative Assembly election on a Congress ticket but appealed to everyone to support him.
Aleng Shimray in his acknowledgement speech said that with the public backing him to seek the Congress ticket for the election, his foremost duty as Congressman is to obey the party discipline.
Asserting that he will dedicate himself to the interest of the poor, Aleng said, "I know poor people do not have friends, I want to be their friends, I want to dedicate my life to the poor" .
Shimray was an active youth Congress leader before he joined Manipur Civil Service in 1974. After his retirement as Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur District, he rejoined his parent party.
The Mingkazai kazip was attended by more than 5000 people of 46 villages of Ukhrul Assembly Constituency.
More than 20 Headmen also attended the customary function.
Mingkazai Kazip is a rare happening in the history of Ukhrul relating to politics.
Aleng Shimray who also belongs to the ten royal clans of Ukhrul breaks the record of starting political career in customary invocation gathering, a tradition deeply respect by the Tangkhuls.