Imphal: If we want to bring change in Manipur, if we want to bring peace and harmony, we need to support regional parties, Manipur’s superstar Raj Kumar Somendro said here on Monday.
People in the state have been struggling to survive because of the 11-month old violence. Therefore, instead of going to national parties, one should promote and form regional parties so that we can protect our interest and the indigenous people, Somendro, also popularly known as Kaiku by his fans and family, told media persons after filing his nomination papers at the Imphal West DC office in Lamphelpat.
The 50-year-old actor is contesting the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha election as a candidate of the Manipur People’s Party (MPP), one of the oldest regional parties in the northeast region.
Somendro will probably face three more candidates from the other parties including the ruling BJP, main opposition Congress and Republican Party of India (Athawale).
Stating why he decided to join regional parties, the Dimparty-born actor said he was compelled to join MPP because of the crisis the state has faced for the last nearly 10 months. The present violence and apprehension among the communities instigated by illegal immigrants or narco-terrorists can be resolved only by the regional parties. Such parties can protect and save our people, he added.
If he wins the election, he would hold discussions with all the stakeholders, intellectuals and party members for the welfare of Manipur, he continued.
In his over 22-year career as an actor, Somendro has appeared in over 400 Manipuri films. He contested the 2019 parliamentary election in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate. In February 2022, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, but left a year later. Some of his notable films are Nongmatang, Ta-Tomba The Great, Imaga Laman Singamdre and Enakta Leiringei.
