10 political parties backing CPI man : Sleeping with the enemies
- Sangai Express Editorial :: January 25, 2014 -

It augurs well for the land and the people.

That is taking a keen interest in the Lok Sabha election, a sharp departure from the earlier perceptions, say 15 or 20 years ago, that election to the Lower House does not count for much to the people of Manipur, which get to send just 2 MPs.

However with the changing political equation across the country where the days of one party rule is passe', each vote counts which in turn means each MP counts.

The BJP has already started rolling the election process with its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi scheduled to arrive here on February 8.

The CPI has gone one step ahead and announced that the redoubtable Dr Nara would be its candidate in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency while it is still undecided in the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Constituency.

Interestingly it is the Congress, which is in power and where the two seats are presently represented by its men, which has been maintaining a studied silence.

This silence however should not be taken to mean that the Congress is sleeping over the upcoming election. To be sure its spin doctors and back room boys must be hard at work, chalking out strategies suited to the local conditions.

The Modi juggernaut may be felt in North and Central India but it is open to question whether his charisma and personality would work in a place like Manipur where conditions are entirely different and local issues take precedence over issues which are deemed to be important to the rest of the country.

Living up to the adage of India being the largest democracy and resting on the premise of 'Unity in Diversity' ?

It may not be exactly correct to say that the election fever has reached its pitch, but already noises are being made by different political parties but it would certainly be pre-mature to read the tea leaves or gaze at the crystal ball at this moment.

Amid the noises coming from the BJP and to a certain extent from the Naga Peoples' Front, especially in connection with 'finding the right man' to field in the Outer Parliamentary Constituency, one development that occupied prime space in all the Imphal based dailies was the announcement that 10 political parties would extend their support to the candidacy of Dr Nara of the CPI.

As announced on January 21, the ten political parties are All India Forward Bloc, Bahujan Samaj Party, CPI (M), Janata Dal (United), Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Shiv Sena and Peoples' Democratic Alliance.

A strong statement that Dr Nara is an acceptable face to many, but then again things are not as simple as it sounds.

There are some surprise packages in the 10 political parties coming together to throw their weight behind Dr Nara. By any yardstick, the Shiv Sena has a close tie with the BJP and it is surprising that the State unit of the Shiv Sena has chosen not to close ranks with the BJP.

On the other hand it is on record that the BJP and the Left Parties, especially the CPI and CPI (M) do not see eye to eye on any matter.

The contradiction that has emerged here is interesting indeed. Another surprise package is the coming together of the JD (U) and the JD (S) to back Dr Nara.

But then the only thing certain about politics is its uncertainty and it is this which can be read in the new development.

Not questioning the credibility or the presence of the 10 political parties here, but the more one studies the situation the more it becomes indicative that instead of Dr Nara riding on the support of the 10 political parties, it could well turn out to be a case of the 10 political parties riding on the shoulder of the man from the CPI.

The final word is yet to be said, but so far this has been the most interesting development in the run up to the Lok Sabha election.