Second among equals and first in the party
Wearing two hats with ease
- Sangai Express Editorial :: October 15 , 2013 -

File Picture :: Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Manipur Mr. Gaikhangam

Second amongst equals and first in the party organisational hierarchy, Mr. Gaikhangam has to a certain extent managed to demonstrate that he is pulling no stops to say that he can wear the crown of Deputy Chief Minister and president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee at the same time with ease.

As the president of the State unit of the Congress, he has pulled no punches in lampooning the Opposition parties as seen at the numerous block and district level Congress Committee meetings and as the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the charge of the Home portfolio, the effort to convey a message that he is here to do a job is unmistakable.

From supping with the rank and file of the State Police Department to holding separate meetings, where those who come lower down in the pecking order can openly air their grievances without the baggages of having to open their mouth in front of their immediate superiors, the efforts of Mr Gaikhangam to demonstrate that he is here to make a difference cannot be wished away that easily.

On the flip side, the possibility of playing to the gallery and earn some brownie points too cannot be dismissed that easily.

Ultimately time will tell, but the image that the man from Nungba Assembly Constituency has been trying to etch is something which cannot be ignored.

Either believe the steps he has taken up or dismiss them, but there is no way in which it can be ignored.

The Opposition parties as well as the civil society organisations and keen political observers must have noticed this.

Top this off as a man who is seen to be media friendly and herein emerges a man who seems intent to be different from his peers.

As is the case with anyone, especially the professional politicians, all things come with a rider and it would be interesting to study or at least try to understand the motive behind all the moves taken up by the Deputy Chief Minister.

To come close to anywhere understanding this, the whole political scenario in Manipur has to be taken into account.

Mr Okram Ibobi, has scripted history by not only becoming the first man to complete a full term in office as the Chief Minister but also by occupying the same chair for the third consecutive term but down the years, he has been painted as a polarising factor, especially by the tribal organisations, with the United Naga Council even going to the extent of dubbing the Congress Government 'communal Government of Manipur'.

It is here that the emerging role of Mr Gaikhangam becomes interesting.

So far, that is after he assumed office as the Home Minister and later as the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Gaikhangam seems intent in taking all the communities along with him.

Something which others have not tried.

As things stand today, the valley dwellers, that is the Meiteis do not seem to regard him as a leader representing only the interest of the hill people.

Likewise the hill people too do not seem to see him as someone kow towing to the interest of the majority community.

A leader with a pan Manipur appeal cutting across community and ethnic divides, that is the target that Mr Gaikhangam seems to be working towards.

The question of whether he will ultimately succeed or not will largely rest on his political acumen and sincerity but as things stand today, he seems to be on the right track.

It is in line with this that his strongly worded condemnation against the recent bomb blast near the official quarters of the Chairman of Ukhrul ADC should be seen.

He did not go into specifics, but the words he chose to use while condemning the incident were pregnant with meaning.

In so few a word, he managed to land the right blow.

It is obvious that the Deputy Chief Minister's statement of armed groups intervening at the level of NGOs activities, district/local organisations came against the backdrop of the recent killing of a Presidential candidate of the Tangkhul Naga Long by some armed persons.

Strong words indeed, but in the strong words lie exposed the failure of the Government to create an environment where the elected ADC members can function in their district.

Mr Gaikhangam kept mum on this aspect and this is where a big drawback is discernible.