Imphal, April 20 2009: With the electioneering period for the second phase of the Parliamentary elections concluded at 4 pm today, the Congress made one final thrust to its campaign for the incumbent MP Dr Th Meinya today.

At one such election rally held at Changangei today, Chief Minister O Ibobi said that Congress party would redraw the existing boundaries of the North Eastern States.

He asserted that the question of territorial boundary is not an issue.

Former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi not only created new States in the North East region but also demarcated their boundaries.

There is no question of the Congress party redrawing the boundaries of these States which have their own culture, tradition and identity, Ibobi said.

Even though the opposition parties have been raising much hue and cry over the question of territorial boundary to make it an issue, the Congress party did not perceive the matter as an issue, he disclosed.

Talking about the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, the Chief Minister asked how he should take up the matter with the Centre while people are being terrified by persistent monetary demands accompanied by firing/bomb attacks.

The Union Government would certainly accede to the demand to repeal AFSPA when the State force succeed in controlling the law and order situation effectively, he confided while informing about the State Government's efforts to bring the law and order situation to a level of normalcy.

He also sought people's support to the Congress Government so that the Congress led Governments at both the Centre and State are strengthened.

He appealed for support to Dr Meinya so as to enable expedite the various development projects and bring about a change.

Exuding that the Congress candidate will win the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat with a huge margin, Ibobi claimed that studying the public response to the party's campaign, Congress has full confidence to win the Inner seat too.

Iterating that the SPF Government has completed seven years, Ibobi claimed that the problems of law and order and unemployment can be solved as there is a strong Government led by Congress in the State although it may take time to bring development.

Saying that the Congress led Government has still lots of works to be done towards making the State self-reliant, he appealed to vote in favour of the Congress candidate so that the party remains in power.

Development can be accelerated and expanded if the Union Govt is insisted upon by three MPs in addition to the State Govt, the Chief Minister asserted.

Seeking blessing of the public, Dr T Meinya appealed to the people not to stay away from voting.

The election rally was also addressed by MPCC president Gaikhangam and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing.

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