2022 polls: Tough task for Congress
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 01, 2021 -

IF at all the Congress forms the government in the state in 2022, then it would not only be a marvellous achievement but would also break the chronic tradition of Manipur's adult franchisees favouring political entities which hold the rein of power at the centre.

History is evidence that the state's voters have a tendency of casting their.votes for the ruling party or parties.

Besides the commoners, even elected members see it appropriate to shift loyalty and cosy up to the party that holds the key to the national chest as could be comprehended from a Congress MLA jumping ship within hours of confirming victory in the nth Manipur Legislative Assembly in 2017.

For the record; the BJP outwitted the Congress, which emerged as the single largest party but failed to move quickly enough to form government, and swiftly announced an alliance and formed government in the state, consequently leading to the erstwhile dominant party in the state and the northeast region losing ground and grip.

While the Congress deserter played a crucial role in the formation of the present BJP-led coalition government, frustration among some Congress legislators on the prospect of seating in the Opposition bench for the remaining years of their five-year term came to the fore as more MLAs perceived that donning the saffron colour would help prolong their political career and left their parent party.

The public's apprehension that the political elites in Manipur feel uncomfortable sans power has also been corroborated when none other than the state's Congress chief Govindas Konthoujam dumped both the post and the party to sup with the BJP.

Among others, exit of a political stalwart like Govindas in the election year must be the greatest shock for the grand old party which has been hoping to strengthen the organisation and return to power after the crucial 2022 election.

Amid the series of setbacks that the party had been facing in the last four years, AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das claiming that the Congress will form the next government in the state underscores that the party is eager to demonstrate that it is still a force to reckon with in electoral politics.

Regardless of the Congress leader commenting at a function held Monday to welcome former BJP members from Mayang Imphal that the Congress is a stable party and it will form the next government, its immediate task would be to keep the house in order along with deftly carrying out election campaign to neutralise whatever ground its arch rival BJP has had gained after wresting power four years back.

As popularity of the BJP from the national perspective seems undiminished, the Congress will have to play the regional or Manipur-specific cards in the run up to the polls, which is also likely to decide the party's future in the state especially in view of growing stature of some regional and sub-national parties.

While only time will tell how the Congress party fares in the upcoming election, it could be safely stated that the party's nominees would be fighting the election with the hope that there would also be change in the corridors of power at the Centre sooner than later.