CM keeps door open for like-minded parties
126th B'day of AICC celebrated
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 28 2011: Asserting that the ruling Congress party will bag 40-45 Assembly seats in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election due in January next, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has declared that the Congress will forge alliance with like-minded political parties to form the next Government.

Speaking to party workers and supporters on the occasion of the 126th foundation anniversary celebration of the Indian National Congress at the BT road office complex of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee today, the Chief Minister said every effort would be made to gain absolute majority in the House.

Seeking the people's mandate in the upcoming election, he assured that the SPF Government would accord top priority to the overall development of Manipur with special emphasis on completing various pending projects in the State.

stating that focus would be on generating employment opportunities, ensuring basic facilities, such as viable irrigation network, for growth in the agricultural sector to achieve food security, expanding and improving road connectivity and improvement in the power sector, he maintained that the SPF Government is equally concerned with the development in education and health-care sectors.

Congress leaders at the MPCC office

Highlighting that during the two consecutive five year terms of the SPF coalition a number of welfare programmes have been either initiated or implemented in different parts of the State, Ibobi also left it to the wisdom of the general public to judge allegations by the Opposition parties that the Congress Government has failed to deliver justice.

Conceding that mud-slinging by the Opposition parties to canvas support during election campaigns is natural in democracy, he advised the Congress leaders and workers to concentrate on ensuring a thumping victory of the Congress party.

Stressing on the need to strengthen the Congress organisation at the grassroot level, Ibobi claimed that the Congress is fortunate to have been serving the people of Manipur irrespective of differences in the multi-ethnic society.

MPCC president Gaikhangam, who also addressed the gathering declared that apart from being the oldest political organisation in the country, the Congress party's principle is based on discipline among the party workers and leaders and commitment for overall development of the Nation.

In the 126 years of existence the strength of the Congress party has been on the rise, he affirmed and attributed the ever expanding political organisation to its firm belief in the principle of secularism.

While conveying that efforts are on to strike alliance with like-minded political parties ahead of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, he also exuded confidence that the Congress alone will bag not less than 50 Assembly seats.

Earlier in the morning, the celebration began with Gaikhangam hoisting the Indian national Congress flag amid rendition of Vande mataram by the Seva Dal volunteers.

While two minutes silence was observed on the occasion to mourn the passing away of Congress leaders and legislators, elderly Congress-men were honoured with the presentation of shawls and mementoes.

Various Congress leaders, Ministers and MLAs also attended the celebration function.

At the moment the Congress is leading the SPF coalition Government with the CPI.