Kuki intellectuals float KPA, to contest polls
Source: Chronicle News Service

Churachandpur, January 19 2022: Feeling neglected and sidelined in many ways and peeved at the ignorance of their history and identity, some Kuki intellectuals have formed a new political party under the name 'Kuki People's Alliance' or KPA in short.

The newly formed political party of the like-minded Kuki intellectuals was granted recognition by the Election Commission of India on January 12, 2022 and awarded registration number 56/232/2021-22/PPS-UV under section 29A of the Representation of Peoples Act effective from 12/1/2022 .

KPA is headed by Tongmang Haokip (retd IRS) as president, with Dr Chinkholal Thangsing, WL Hangshing (retd IRS) and Chinhmthang Manlun as vice president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

Talking to this correspondent, KPA president Tongmang Haokip informed that in the past there existed Kuki National Assembly (KNA) which had ensured elections of 2-3 MLAs and got involved in the formation of government.

However, KNA was derecognised after it failed to field candidates for six consecutive terms.

He then noted the need to have a viable political party to take care of their problems and interest, ideology and identity in the present day government set up.

Tongmang Haokip went on to say that Nagas have a viable political party in Naga People Front (NPF) through which they could express their problems by taking part in the formation of the government in alliance with BJP or any other party.

National People's Party (NPP) too has four of its members elected and is part of the BJP government, he added.

Reiterating that Kukis are sidelined in many ways, Tongmang stated that pertaining to the ethnic constitution, the Meiteis, the Kukis and the Nagas are the principal communities over the years, but Kukis have been neglected, their history ignored and their identity questioned.

With regard to the KNA's claims of its existence, KPA secretary Dr Chinkholal said that KNA has not been able to held a single candidate since the last 30 years while president Tongmang asserted that KNA's inability to field candidates for six terms resulted in the derecognition of the party by the ECI, adding that the KNA's attempt to revive the party will be futile.

On fielding their own candidates in the upcoming state assembly election, KPA president Tongmang Haokip and secretary WL Hangshing asserted that they are aiming to fight election in at least 10 constituencies where there are dominant Kuki population, depending on the popularity of the candidates and his or her background.

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