Imphal: Six political parties led by the Congress and Left parties on Tuesday formed an alliance in Manipur ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled on February 27 and March 3.
State Congress President, Nameirakpam Loken addressing the media here said the people and the political parties feel the need of defeating the BJP and its allies as their activities and policies are taking back the country to the past rather than moving forward.
He further said the six political parties will work together in the ensuing elections. The constituent partners of the alliance were Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Revolutionary Socialist party (RSP), JD(S) and Forward Bloc. The Congress has already announced the list of 40 candidates and the CPI has also announced its decision to fight in two constituencies, Khurai and Kakching.
Congress will not field any candidate at Khurai but it will go for friendly contest with CPI at Kakching as the name of candidate was already declared, Loken said.
Former Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh said like-minded and secular political parties decided to have a pre-poll alliance to fight the election. Such an alliance was constituted in 2002 and was able to form the government for three consecutive terms in Manipur he said. A new chapter will be opened in Manipur with the success of the alliance in the elections, he said.
Congress will sacrifice to support common candidates and work to ensure full functioning of all local bodies he assured. During the term of the BJP government in Manipur no elections were held to elect local bodies and all powers were administered in a dictatorial manner by the government, he said.
‘If we allow the continuance of this dictatorial form of government, Manipur and the rest of the country will suffer. Congress has announced list of 40 candidates and will sacrifice in one constituency as of now. For the remaining 19 seats the final decision will be announced soon,” Ibobi said.
L Sotinkumar, State Secretary of CPI said the six political parties will fight against the “undemocratic, unconstitutional, communal, neo-liberal, pro-privatisation” policies of the BJP government. It was unanimously resolved to defeat the BJP by supporting Congress candidates in most of the seats by the Left and secular parties he said. The Congress-led alliance will be in a position to serve the people and provide a meaningful life to all, Sotin said.
A common minimum programme and the name of the alliance will be announced soon he said. CPI(M), State Secretary , Ksh Santa said the six political parties held talks for about a month before deciding to jointly fight the Assembly elections. The anti-incumbency factor, anti-people and communal activities of the BJP led government in Manipur, will be the main reasons for the defeat of the BJP led coalition, he said.
Considering the resentment of the people against the style of functioning of the BJP and its allies it was decided to form an alliance led by the Congress and supported by Left and secular parties. Santa said the alliance of the secular parties will be supported by the common masses, farmers, down trodden people, people working in small scale industries, workers.
Gaikhangam, Former state Congress President, Kangujam Manoranjan, State Secretary of Revolutionary Socialist party (RSP) , Konsam Loken, President of state JD(S), Khomdram Gyaneshwor, State Secretary of Forward Bloc, also attended the conference.Â
