Imphal: NPF-BJP-NPP alliance candidate Kachui Timothy Zimik on Thursday started his election campaign for the 2 Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency with a massive show of strength at New Cannan village under Ukhrul district.
The campaign started with a prayer by Rev R L Simon Raomai in the presence of a large number of senior leaders of BJP, NPP and NPF.
Addressing the gathering, Zimik, who considered himself to be an ‘outsider’, said that what Manipur needed at this crucial juncture is “peace and development”.
“In order to have peace and development, we must have mutual respect and sincerity among the communities to solve our problems”, the former IRS officer said, adding that he was committed to the cause and to the task of restoring peace in the state.
He said we must all work together irrespective of communities to bring peace and prosperity in our state.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, the candidate said he wants to bring all the warring parties of the present crisis for a dialogue by sitting together. This would be his first sincere target after getting elected to the parliament, he added.
On the idea of Manipur, the NPF candidate described Manipur as the most beautiful place on earth and added that he wants to convert the state like a Singapore. For this to happen we need to focus on economic development and special care for weaker sections of society.
Dr Sapam Ranjan, who represented the Chief Minister N Biren Singh, as chief guest of the function, recalled the 2017 March when NPF, BJP and NPP formed an alliance for a BJP-led government in Manipur. The alliance was formed for the people, state and development of the state, he described.
The Minister also highlighted various social schemes, including ‘Chief Minister gi Hakchel gi Tengbang’ launched by the Biren Singh government. The popular health scheme was the first of its kind in the country. This is what we call governance, Dr Ranjan proclaimed.
The Health Minister said the same alliance returned in 2022 and this was only for the betterment of the state and its people. The candidature of Zimik as a common candidate for the three-party alliance shows how strong the alliance is, Ranjan added.
It may be recalled that the ruling BJP in the state had already decided to support its alliance NPF candidate for the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha election.
Congress’ former legislator Alred Kanngam Arthur will be the main rival candidate for Zimik for the general election.
