Gaikhangam unfazed, sees landslide win
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 29, 2012:
Undaunted by the subversive activities carried out by underground outfits in both the hills and valley which were targeted at the Congress party, MPCC president Gaikhangam is confident of achieving a landslide victory in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhavan this afternoon, Gaikhangam exuded confidence that the Congress party would secure absolute majority and retain power in the State despite all the disruptions and threats.
Yet, Gaikhangam who contested the election in Nungba AC decried that the polling could not be done in a free and fair manner due to attacks by UG outfits on Congress candidates and workers in both the hills and valley.
Both ZUF and NSCN-IM violated ceasefire ground rules and indulged in criminal activities like abduction, holding hostage and intimidation of Congress workers in addition to murdering people, he charged.
Similar subversive activities were carried out by CorCom in the valley thereby posing major hurdles to the election process.
Despite all the threats and prohibitions, people came out in large hordes to elect candidates of their choice.
Saying that this was an encouraging sign, Gaikhangam exuded confidence that Congress party would retain power by recording a landslide victory.
Remarking that there were certain security lapses, Gaikhangam noted that security forces were unable to control open movement of armed militants in hill districts.
Under such circumstances, it was the people who had to protect security personnel.
Moreover, there were places where armed militants took undue advantage due to late arrival of security personnel at their designated polling stations, Gaikhangam said.