Chinlunthang announces his decision to contest in Singngat AC
Source: The Sangai Express

CCpur, December 22 2016: The incumbent president of UZO Chinlunthang has today formally announced his intention to contest the upcoming Assembly election during a solemn function that drew a huge turn-out from across Singngat AC, the Assembly seat he set his eyes on.

An advocate by profession, the son of a former Minister Thangkhanlal who was elected from the same seat, Chinlunthang had during the last election filed his nomination papers but retracted at the very last minute, compelling him to clarify before his supporters today that there will be no more U-turns.

The political landscape in the State has changed so much of late that there is no need to fashion a speech that is intended to assuage the public or the chief as well as to appease leaders, he said.

Chinlunthang announces his decision to contest in Singngat AC

The issue at stake is crucial and it is no longer about tin-roofing, solar powers or contract works; it is about the people's identity, land and their rights.

Therefore it is high-time that even the ignorant or those electorate from the remotest part ensure that their right to franchise is not exploited for individual or monetary gains, he said while addressing his supporters inside the family's residential campus.

He also told the gathering that their identity, land and very existence are at stake and promised to be with them and not forsake them even in the most difficult hours and at the most awkward situations.

Politics today in Manipur is now based on issues and is no longer dominated by politics of work programmes, he said and called on the people of Singngat AC to also wake up to the reality and shatter the era of politicians cum contractors, apparently in a veiled attack on the incumbent MLA.

Making his declaration to contest the poll clear, Chinlunthang, who is also the BJP ST Morcha vice president said he will ensure the much needed change in society.

Appreciating and exploring the existing authority of the Hill Areas Committee as is mandated by law would be his priority at the State level while at the grass-root level revamping education under Singngat AC as was already shown by the UZO under his leadership would be given due primacy, he said.

Unless the people are educated, the people of the area will continue to be subjugated in all walks of life, he claimed and presented several cases including the denial of SSA residential school, a Hr Secondary School or the plan to double the distance of villages in the area with their sub-divisional headquarters at the excuse of administrative convenience, as some of the cases of subjugation.

He further claimed that it would be irresponsible for the citizens if they continue to support and rally behind the people who have accepted such degree of subjugation of the people who have elected them.

On the political party he intends to fight the poll with, Chinlunthang said he is optimistic of receiving the BJP ticket with which he has enrolled himself with and also assumed leadership with ST Morcha.