Supported BJP out of compulsion: Conrad Sangma
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 18 2022: NPP national president Conrad K Sangma has said that the party's voice and identity will be showcased to the people after the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election though the party was unable to do so as it was a part of coalition government and made sacrifices all the time.

On the other hand, NPP Manipur working president MLA L Jayantakumar said that it was very unfortunate for thechief minister to force government officers/employees to organise meeting for BJP in violation of ECI and government norms.

He made this remark while addressing gathering at a public meet held in connection with his flag hoisting ceremony on Friday.

Addressing the gathering in a public meet held at Pishum Ningom Leirak Machin ground, Conrad Sangma said that NPP was compelled to support BJP in Manipur as the party is an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

While pointing out that no single party could form the government after the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election held in 2017 due to the fractured mandate, he said NPP shouldered immense responsibility in forming a coalition government led by BJP during that time but the saffron party has now forgotten the role played by NPP in forming the coalition government.

Being a coalition government, NPP suffered numerous challenges, he said, adding that coalition partners need to honour each other for running the coalition government successfully.

With increasing support of the people, NPP is hopeful of getting more seats in the upcoming election and playing a big role in government formation after the upcoming election, Conrad Sangma said and appealed to people of Keishamthong AC to support NPP candidate in the election.

In his speech, MLA Jayantakumar said that government employees are not allowed to participate in election related activities but the chief minister violates these norms.

He warned that suitable' measures may be initiated to showcase that every citizen including the chief minister are under law if the CM continues to force government employees to organise election related meetings.

It was also very shameful to learn from media report that worker of a candidate from Keishamthong AC stole ballot paper from DC office, he said, adding that such illegal activity by a person joining politics afresh will have severe consequences.

The public meet was also attended by Meghalaya health minister and NPP leader James Sangma, NPP national vice president and deputy CM Y Joykumar and Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC NPP candidate ex-MLA S Subashchandra.

Meanwhile, Usham Manglem, who is the youngest candidates in the fray for the Assembly election, has vowed to work and put all his energy towards making the state become self-sufficient in food.

Usham Manglem is contesting from Wangjing Tentha assembly constituency on NPP ticket and his flag hosting ceremony was held at his Kairembikhok Awang Leikai residence on Friday.

Later, a public meet was held and it was attended by NPP Wangjing Tentha unit vice-president Keisam Chaoba, NPYF Manipur State president L Jayananda and key functionaries of NPP Manipur and NPP Wangjing Tentha unit.

In his address, Manglem said that he is confident of winning the upcoming election and will put special emphasis on development of education, health and agriculture sectors if elected.

He also vowed to put all his energy and resources towards making the state self-sufficient in food by giving first priority on developing agriculture sector.

He maintained that Manipur will remain undeveloped if it continues to rely on fund released by the Centre.

He also pledged to share power with the people if elected in the upcoming election.

Conrad Sangma also attended the flag hoisting ceremony of Pukhrambam Sumati, party's candidate for the seat of Lamsang AC, at Lamdeng.

In his address, Conrad said that Manipur and other states of the North East remain undeveloped as people of the region gave vote to political parties which are totally unaware of the region.

These political parties would never formulate policies and programmes suitable to the region as they are unaware of the region.

However, NPP being the only national party from the NE will be able to ensure rights of the people of NE and work as per pulse of people of the region.

Congress party had ruled for a long time in most states of the region but it did not formulate any specific policy for people of the North East and BJP too is no different as the party is yet to formulate any significant policy for the region, he said, adding that these national parties never hear voices of people of the North East and hence need a political party which could raise voice of the people of region.

Accordingly, late NPP leader PA Sangma worked sincerely to bring unity among the people of the region under the motto 'One voice, one North East' and late NPP leader's work is now bearing fruit as more people of the region trust the party.

NPP is getting stronger with the support of people of Manipur and the party expects to win maximum seats in the upcoming election and form a new government led by the party, he added.

In her speech, Sumati said that Lamsang continues to be one of the least develop constituencies of the state as people of the constituency elected selfish representatives who did nothing for the welfare of the people.

She then urged people of the constituency to elect representative who could think for welfare of the people.

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