'BJP fears going ahead with ADC polls'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 11 2021: Congress Working Committee (CWC) permanent member Gaikhangam has asserted that the State Government has been deliberately delaying the elections to ADCs and ULBs for BJP fears that it would suffer humiliating defeats if the elections are held now.

He was speaking at a one-day State level youth interaction cum social media training programme held at Congress Bhavan here today under the aegis of the Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC).

Whereas the BJP-led Government has been conveniently citing the COVID-19 pandemic for repeatedly postponing the ADC election, the pandemic did not come to the mind of the Government when by-election to some Assembly segments were held last year.

But the real reason for deferring the ADC polls is BJP's lack of confidence, Gaikhangam said.

Elections are not something which can be overlooked.

Elections at the local level, State level and National level must be held mandatorily as laid down in the Constitution, said the CWC member.

'BJP fears going ahead with ADC polls'

He then asked if it is not the Government's responsibility to hold these mandatory elections in time.

The Government's unwillingness to hold ADC polls at the moment despite strong pressures from the masses to hold the same election urgently which is long overdue only exposed that the ruling party (BJP) is not in a very comfortable position, Gaikhangam said.

If they had any prospect, BJP would have been over enthusiastic to go to ADC and ULB polls, he said.

The Government is afraid to hold ADC elections.

The ruling party has a foreboding that all their tricks and wrongdoings have been uncovered by the masses and people may not vote for them which means they may not reach even two digit mark in the 2022 election, asserted the ex-Deputy Chief Minister.

Perhaps, the Government may be thinking about aborting the ADC election altogether, he added.

As for Congress party, a mission has been launched to secure not less than 45/46 seats in the next State Assembly election which is due in 2022 .

As a part of the mission, interaction programmes have been initiated at block and district levels.

The Congress party has been working to connect the grassroots to the highest level, he claimed.

Talking about the defection of some Congress MLAs from the party, Gaikhangam maintained that 17 MLAs are still with the party.

Informing that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has adopted a decision to amend the 10th Schedule, Gaikhangam said that the 10th Schedule would be amended to the effect that an MLA/MP elected on a party's ticket cannot defect to a second party if Congress party returns to power.

Once the 10th Schedule is amended, defectors may face automatic disqualification and prohibition on contesting elections for six years or for life, said the CWC member.

"The present 10th Schedule has some serious lapses.

It is like two/three MPs/MLAs cannot defect but defection by larger groups of MLAs and MPs is permissible", he remarked.

Asserting that the present is the age of youth, Gaikhangam called upon all the youngsters to exploit their talents, energy and expertise for the cause of the masses and the State.

MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam said that India has the highest population of youth (61 per cent) in the world and BJP has been overlooking this fact.

Asking if there was any BJP leader who sacrificed for the freedom, sovereignty and integrity of India, Govindas claimed that Congress party was led by leaders who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and sovereignty of the country.

The masses would have been suffering immensely had the Congress Government not passed the National Food Security Act and introduced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, said the MPCC president.

BJP does not respect the law of the land.

Smuggling of drugs worth lakhs is prohibited but if the drug consignment is worth crores, one is given a free run, he said.

He then appealed to the gathering to work with dedication in order to restore a Congress Government in the State.