Election 2017- Agenda Manipur
- Imphal Times Editorial :: September 21 2016 -

What actually will be the agenda of the upcoming Assembly Election is a matter of serious concern for the people of this bleeding state.

While Inner Line Permit System, Territorial integrity, Scheduled Tribe demand, etc. are the main issues of the valley base people; demand for a separate state put up by sections of Kuki Rebel groups presently ensuing peace deal with the Government of India and also the long pending settlement of the NSCN-IM is a serious issue for the Hill districts.

Even though each issue are of the interest of different major communities in the state, all the issues are antagonistic in nature and it stands tough for every political party to grapple the issues together to get majority in the upcoming election.

‘Election 2017’, perhaps is going to decide the future of Manipur.

Unlike, yesteryears; result of this election is having potential of redrawing the boundary or strengthening the territorial integrity of this state if the politically matured people of the state fail to handle it with extra care.

Whether Manipur of today (in term of its territorial boundary) stands as it ‘is’ or ‘not’ will certainly be depended to the result of this election which is only some 6 months from now. This is how some highly politically sensible people felt.

And it is natural that, for these politically sensible people, this election is important of two factors : -1) NSCN-IM is hoping a lasting solution with the India Government after the signing of the infamous ‘framework agreement’ and 2) the Kuki rebel groups ensuing political dialogue with the Center and State Govt. had taken decision to demand a separate Kuki state.

Due to this, those favouring the cause of NSCN-IM will certainly support the political party which understands their problem and those with the Kuki separatists will go with the political party supporting them.

But one disadvantage is that the demand of the NSCN-IM and that of the Kuki separatists group can never go together as the NSCN-IM leadership wanted the Kuki Rebel group to sail the Naga boat.

On the other hand those against the two will definitely go for the political party that opposed both these demand.

Is it the Congress led political party that will keep intact the territorial boundary of the state or the one led by BJP that will stand for the historically recognized boundary? It is politics and no one can predict what would happen.

But one thing that people know is that it is open fight between group led by Indian National Congress (INC) and the other by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Both are equally strong when it comes to the state of Manipur as Congress is in power in the state government while BJP is ruling the center.

Both the Congress and the BJP has started their political gambit for the upcoming 2017 Manipur Legislative Assembly election playing by holding the cards of each community.

But in the main political theatre, agenda for both the INC and the BJP is clear now.

INC stands with the same territorial integrity issue while, BJP is striking with the developmental issue without leaving aside the sensational issue of territorial integrity which might affect them in the valley area.

Both BJP and Congress is playing tough as they know that number matters in democracy.

One thing for sure is that, none of these parties are showing interest to the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958.

It is time to see how the people responded or reacted to this highly sensible political drama.