Cong eyes return to power
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 17 2021: Former Deputy Chief Minister and former Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president, Gaikhangam has expressed hope that there will be a Congress or Congress-led Government after the 2022 State Assembly election.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a Covid awareness programme cum vaccination drive organised at Khoupum in Noney district yesterday, the legislator from Nungba AC said that ebb and flow of political parties are natural as the Congress was at the helm of the Governance for 40-50 years and now the BJP is in power.

From freedom movements to revolutionary development to making India a global figure, Congress has played a pivotal role, he said while adding that the grand old party is not like any other party whose thirst for power is insatiable.

The Congress leader also maintained that the party has never tried to destabilize the BJP-led Government and gain power since the current Government was formed.

The party was expecting many welfare schemes and services from the BJP since they too got people's mandate, but dissensions are everywhere, economic condition has deteriorated seriously, farmers and poor are left in dire straits during these 7 years under BJP-led Government at the Centre, he said.

He added that demonetization, price hike, GST, farmers issue etc have seriously affected the country and people have started questioning the development model the BJP led Government has presented.

The Congress has been lying low for the past few years but has been in constant touch with people and their issues.

And as there has been rising resentment against the BJP-led Government and in view of the ground work the Congress has been undertaking for years, the party will at least win 45-46 seats in the upcoming State Assembly election, he said with confidence.

The number the party is expecting is not solely because of the work the party has done but due to the faith and love people repose on the party, he said.

On being asked about the formation of the Government in the previous term, the Congress leader said that formation of BJP led Government despite the Congress winning 28 seats against BJP's 21 will not be repeated this time.

The Government formation in 2017 was a clear example of misuse of power by the BJP led Government at the Centre, he said while adding that the existing Government is an 'illegal Government'.

One of the most scandalous things the BJP has done was the forceful installation of BJP-led Governments in Goa and Manipur where the party emerged minority in the respective State elections and people continue to speak ill of such misdeeds till date, he said.

Such cases of 'violation of Constitution and immoral conduct' should not be repeated again, he said.

Regarding the case of 12 Parliamentary Secretaries the Government had in the earlier part of its rule, Gaikhangam said that he did not have much to say on it.

He however expressed hope that the Supreme Court will soon come out with an acceptable ruling.

It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court is likely to deliver a judgment regarding the case of Parliamentary Secretaries on July 26.On rumours that there are dissensions among party members regarding the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Gaikhangam stated that such issue is non-existent within the party as the CLP leader is elected from among the Legislators.

There will be a new CLP leader after the 2022 election and as such the question of resentment, likes or dislikes will not exist, he said.

Comment