Time to rejuvenate MPP : Down but not out
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 09 2018 -

Down but not out. In announcing that the MPP will field candidates in the two Parliamentary seats next year, its president O Jugindro is ringing out the message that the MPP may be down but it is not yet out.

Time alone will tell whether the MPP will be in a position to field candidates in any one of the two Parliamentary Constituencies, forget whether the candidate it fields will be a contender, but it is unfortunate to see the party in its present state.

No one to blame but itself for here is a party which was once the main party to stand against the Congress and which stood as a party which took pride in its regional identity.

Gone are the days when the Cycle was seen to be giving the toughest fight to the Hand during any election in Manipur, but today this is no longer the case, with the party unable to escape the description ‘the regional political party which has its office behind Mapal Kangjeibung.’

To many the party came to be identified as a party with its office at a prime area in the heart of Imphal.

Tough to say whether the party can regain its glory days of yore, but let it be clear it can only emerge as an important player when it set things right.

And setting things right should mean understanding the pulse of the people and changing with the need of the changing times.

Unfortunately the MPP seems to have lost the knack of keeping track with the thought currents of the public.

The desertion of some of its most well known political figures for greener climes could not have been good for the party by any stretch of the imagination, but the question of bigger importance here is whether the MPP has learnt any lessons from the folly of its past.

There is again no gain saying the fact that a strong MPP would be in the best interest of the people.

A third force spearheaded by the MPP would be an ideal foil to the two party system, which seems to be emerging with only the BJP and the Congress remaining the key political parties.

This is where the MPP may seek ways to see if it can strengthen its standing by striking strategic ties with some of the political parties.

A look at neighbouring Nagaland should prove useful.

The NPF, which was formed much after the MPP came to light, continues to remain a key political party despite the NDPP under Nephiu Rio managing to form the Government in the recently held Assembly elections there.

One of the oldest regional political parties in the North East region, the MPP need to do more to come back in the reckoning of the people.

Time for the party to see where it stands at the grass root level. Strengthen the base of the party.

Latch onto some issues which are dear to the people.

It is a shame that while a Kohima based political party, the NPF, has emerged as a major ally of the present ruling dispensation, the MPP failed to get even an MLA elect.

This is what is certainly not expected from a party which gave the late Md Alimuddin to the State-a leader who is today regarded as one of the best Chief Ministers in Manipur not to speak of being the first CM after Manipur attained Statehood.

It should also not be forgotten that it is the party which gave O Joy to Manipur, one of the best legislators that the State has seen.

Time to put in efforts to propel MPP back on track.