Right time to sound word of caution : Lesson for Cong from the CM
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: Ocotber 23, 2014 -

Not very often that one hears a word of caution at the time of celebrating a win.

Maybe it was the need of the hour but it was not characteristic of the Chief Minister to bang home certain points with so much force as he did at the felicitation programme of newly elected Congress MLA from Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency, E Dwijamani on October 21.

Coming to terms with the reality of the time or a reminder that the Congress needs to be its toes to withstand the BJP wave that is sweeping across the country despite the losses suffered by the party in some by elections held some time back.

Will definitely need more than a pep talk to revitalise the Congress party, which appears to have gathered rust in the more than ten years it has been in office at the State.

The Chief Minister will surely know this, and his tough stance adopted at the felicitation programme of E Dwijamani more than made it clear that the wind of change blowing in other parts of the country has not blown over his head.

That the BJP is on the ascendancy should be ample from the point that it has managed to steal the thunder from the Congress, which has been in power for the last two terms at Maharashtra.

The juggernaut did not stop at Maharashtra for the BJP swept the Haryana polls too and is set to see its first BJP Government ever.

That this has come after ten years of being ruled by the Congress will make the situation all that more uncomfortable for all Congressmen.

No wonder then that Chief Minister O Ibobi made sure to mention these two States and Delhi as well to drive home his point to the Congressmen.

The real essence of the Chief Minister’s address will be lost if it is taken as just another talk targeted at the party’s workers.

No doubt the workers are important, but ultimately it is the conduct of the elected members which will ultimately prove to be the deciding point. Moreover it is also important to keep in mind that what the Chief Minister had to say did not exclude him.

As the first among equals, it is only right that he take the lead in shouldering the responsibility and leading by example.

And as the man heading the ruling party in the Government, the Chief Minister will need to demonstrate that he is not merely here to occupy a chair for the remaining term. This is what sets apart a capable political leader from the run of the mill politician.

The failures of the Congress Government in Manipur are just too lengthy to be listed here, but there is no ground on why it cannot aim to do better.

For starters, the Chief Minister and the Government need to acknowledge that the road widening exercise from the airport to Keishampat junction has woefully fallen behind the scheduled time.

Everything more than suggest that it will not be complete before the Sangai festival.

A prime example that the Government and supposedly leaders of the people should not go about shooting their mouth off.

Same is the case with the assurance given to the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur, nearly one year back.