Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 17 2008:
Chief Minister O ibobi Singh has unequivocally asserted that the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Government is firmly committed to ensure progress and development of the society.
Addressing a public meeting organised in connection with the Moirang AC by-election by the Congress party at Kwakta Khuman and Tera Khongshangbi today, the Chief Minister said the SPF Government will ceaselessly strive for planning and implementation of welfare programmes.
Delivering his speeches at the two venues with promises and appeal to the people for cooperation, O Ibobi pointed out that for successful implementation of developmental works promotion and maintenance of peace and harmony amongst various communities in the State are of utmost importance.
He further stated that for accelerating the State's progress the SPF government needs the backing and confidence of the people and appealed to the electorates to cast their votes for Mairenbam Prithviraj - the Congress nominee in the by-poll.
A number of SPF (Congress) Ministers, party MLAs and leaders speaking at the meeting venues highlighted development works initiated and implemented by the Congress-led SPF Government.
CPI backs Cong: Under the stated objective of strengthening principles of secularism and upholding democratic institutions, the Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council had in a meeting held on December 14 resolved to support and cast votes for the Congress candidate in the Moirang Assembly by-election slated for December 27, a CPI release said.
Highlighting that the CPI accords top importance upon upholding democratic principles and institutions and such an objective had been the decisive factor for being a partner of the Secular progressive Front Government, the release issued by the party's State Secretary L Ibohal conveyed that the CPI State unit's highest decision making body the State Council decided to extend support to the Congress nominee in the by-election.
Determination of the CPI to keep away political parties based on communalism from grabbing power is another important factor for not fielding candidate of its own in the by-election and instead galvanise support for victory of the candidate belonging to secular party such as the Congress, Ibohal maintained.
Substantiating on the contention, the release recounted resignation of the then Agriculture Minister N mangi from the erstwhile Manipur State Congress Party Government after the MSCP showed eagerness to close ranks with the then BJP-led NDA Government in the Centre.
Ibohal also clarified that inspite of the Left Front at the national level making an all out effort to give shape to the Third Front without non-Congress and non-BJP political parties, at the State level the CPI joined hands with the Congress party taking into account certain important local issues and obligation to the people for their faith upon the secular parties.