Nimaichand belittles INC victory
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 10 2012: MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang has stated that the overwhelming victory achieved by Congress in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election was not the people's real mandate.

Congress wrested 42 seats by using excessive muscle power and money power, alleged Dr Nimaichand.

Even as the upper expenditure ceiling fixed by the Election Commission of India for each candidate was Rs eight lakhs, many candidates huge amounts unaccounted money.

There were many candidates who spent Rs five crores to Rs 10 crores in the last Assembly election.

Though Congress secured 42 seats, it did not mean people voted for Congress party sincerely.

Congress secured overwhelming victory by taking recourse to excessive muscle power and money power, he asserted.

On being enquired by media persons about MPP drawing blank in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, Dr Nimaichand Luwang recalled that MPP secured five seats in the Assembly elections held in 2007 .

Though the five MLAs were elected on MPP tickets, they did not work for the party nor did they work as opposition members.

Rather they were playing sycophancy to the ruling party.

This seriously compromised the credibility of MPP, explained Dr Nimaichand.

As a party, MPP has little fund and most of the candidates who contested in the last Assembly election on MPP tickets were poor and they had no money to spend in unaccounted manner.

Even many office bearers left the party and joined other parties which could offer money for contesting the election.

This was another factor for reducing the party's strength.

One factor which indirectly helped the Congress party was the failure of non-Congress parties to form a joint front ahead of the elections.

A large number Government employees worked in favour of Congress party since the election process was initiated till the counting of votes.

Moreover, central paramilitary forces deployed for election duty viewed MPP with suspicion.

All these factors were responsible for the party's debacle, stated the MPP president.

At the time of election, MPP thought that the party which was in power at the centre would come to power in Manipur too.

Nevertheless, PDA, the alliance of 11 opposition parties would put up a straight fight against the Congress party in the next parliamentary elections, Nimaichand added.

Notably, both CPI and MPP drew blank in the 10th Manipur Assembly elections.

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