Soul searching as MPP completes 46 years
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2013: There is no need to lose hope because no MPP candidate was elected in the last Assembly election rather all MPP supporters/workers need to gather strength and focus on re-building the party, stated MPP president N Sovakiran.

He was speaking at the 46th foundation day of the party held at the party office today.

After offering tributes to expired members of the party, Sovakiran launched the party's website www.manipurpeoplesparty.org Although the gathering was not very big, many senior and key leaders of the party were present at the function.

MPP was set up on December 26, 1968 as a regional political party after take due note of the people's grievances and dissent against the then Congress Government for their failure to take up any significant development project in the State even as Congress party was in power at the Centre too, Sovakiran recalled.

MPP leaders praying

Before MPP took birth on the soil of Manipur, Congress party was already in power for more than 20 years but the Government did nothing for the welfare of Manipuri people.

Driven by the people's growing dissent against Congress party, MPP was established to fight for the cause of Manipuri people.

As is the case with all national parties, Congress party of the State cannot act in their own wisdom nor in the interest of the people for they have to take consent of the party's high command.

Had MPP which does not have high command system been in power, the controversial border fence would have been dismantled long back, claimed Sovakiran.

MPP supporters/workers need not lose heart because no MPP candidate was elected to the State Assembly.

The MPP president called upon the gathering to add vigour and strengthen the party so that it can fight the future elections successfully.

Recalling the genesis of MPP, MPP advisor and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani said that MPP was set up like other regional parties set up in bigger States of India with a conviction that it would be wrong to wait for the Centre's blessing every time people wish for something.

MPP formed the Government in 1972, 1974 and 1990 with Alimuddin as Chief Minister on two occasions and RK Ranbir once.

During this short period, MPP took up many significant projects.

It was the MPP Government which first observed Khongjom Day at the State level.

The present generation seemed to have forgotten that it was MPP which first raised the demand for granting statehood to Manipur.

Observance of Patriots' Day (August 13), establishment of RIMS, Government polytechnic, Board of Secondary Education Manipur, spinning mill, Govindaji Temple Board, establishment of Agriculture University, introduction of double cropping system and inclusion of Meiteilon in the 8th Schedule of Indian Constitution were all done when MPP was in power, claimed Dr Chandramani.

Many other party leaders also spoke at the foundation anniversary.