MPP leaders begin introspection
Target:A good government led by MPP in state in 2012
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 21 2009: The leaders of Manipur People's Party (MPP) have begun introspection in their own relevance with the present political and social scenario in the state.

A special three-day meeting of the leaders has begun at the party office here from today.

The main aim of the special meeting is to set up a good government led by the party in Manipur after the assembly election in 2012, party president Dr L Chandramani said.

President Dr L Chandramani (2nd from L), MLAs RK Anand, O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy and Dr I Ibohalbi dring the MPP leaders special meeting at the party office

Addressing a press conference held at the party office today, Dr Chandramani said, the general election was fought unitedly by the regional parties of Manipur in order to bring about peace and normalcy, to prevent influx of migrants into the state, to enforce rule of law, to protect identity, etc.

But since the merger of the regional parties like FPM, DRPP and MPP was done in a hurry, there were several lacunas, admitted Dr Chandramani.

In the last assembly election, the MPP won only five seats and 17 candidates of the party came second, he said.

Dr Chandramani further said, MPP is the second among the oldest regional parties in India.

The party was in power in the state three times.

But opportunists from Delhi had created problems here.

With the firm conviction of the necessity of ushering in changes, the three parties namely, FPM, DRPP and MPP merged into a single party i.e.MPP, he said and added, the objective still remains unchanged.

No sooner had the three regional parties merged into one than came three elections that the party had to face, Dr Chandramani said.

Because of lack of time, the party had no opportunity to consult and discuss with the grass root level party workers.

The party did not have time to organise properly, the MPP president lamented.

Recalling the election of the party president, Dr Chandramani said, a lot of unwanted complicacies had occurred and even had to fight cases in the court.

Finally he was elected as party president uncontested.

During the election of Rajya Sabha MP, there was a controversy that some MLAs had voted for Rishang Keishing, he said.

Thus the party had fought three elections during a short period of time in the face of muscle and money power.

Considering all these factors, the organisation of the MPP must somehow continue.

Therefore in order to retrospect and introspect and improve its future by discussing all issues concerned in a very peaceful manner, the special three-day meeting of the party leaders has been convened, he said.

Before the party leaders could get together and take a resolute stand, the 15th Lok Sabha elections came and Prof N Mohendro was declared as the party candidate.

However, he was replaced by ex-MP Thounaojam Chaoba as the party candidate.

Because of such changes in the party decision, the electorate seemed to see an inconsistency and lack of political wisdom on the part of the leaders, Dr Chandramani pointed out.

He further said, with a view to avoiding such anomalies in the next general elections, the party will properly organise its workers to the grass root level and fight the assembly elections in 2012 with the ojective of setting up a good government led by MPP.

MLA and ex party president, O Joy, MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, Dr Ng Bijoy and RK Anand, ex-MLA Sobhakiran, former minister L Jatra, leaders of Chanura Marup sat on the dais during the inaugural function of the special meeting.

MLA O Joy was the moderator in the first session of the special meeting in which ten delegates from each district are taking part.