Campaigning for Lok Sabha polls gains speed

I MPHAL, Mar 26: With the 15th Lok Sabha election for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency fast approaching, electioneering in the tribal dominated Constituency has gained momentum in a calm manner unlike for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat. Since the Government is observing Suspension of Operation with almost all underground outfits based in the hills, there have been no reports of violence incidents in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency covering hill districts like Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong , Churachandpur and parts of valley districts of Thoubal and Imphal East. So far, major political parties like Congress, BJP, NCP and the regional People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) have fielded their respective candidates for the Outer seats. While the ruling Congress party has nominated Thangso Baite as its candidate for the Outer seat, BJP has fielded Loli Adanee to contest for the same seat. NCP and PDA have also followed suit with nomination of LB Sona and sitting Independent MP Mani Charenamei as their respective candidates. While NCP’s candidate LB Sona, who is being supported by Manipur People’s Party (MPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and National People’s Party (NPP), filed his nomination papers yesterday, PDA has opened its district unit offices. Talking to The Sangai Express, general secretary of PDA Gaidon Kamei, who is also the party spokesman said “So far no interference have been made from any underground group in the hills in the electioneering activities. We are campaigning in a very peaceful manner. The main factor for this, we believe, is their (UG groups) entry in the peace process with the Government”. “With tranquil prevailing , we hope that the election to the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency scheduled on April 16 will be free and fair,” Gaidon added. He, however, conveyed that the official election campaign of Charenamei will be kicked off in a fitting manner at Senapati district headquarters next Wednesday. “Besides the eight Independent Naga MLAs who are supporting our candidate, thousands of people drawn from the district and beyond will attend the function,” he informed. In similar manner, election meetings will be held at the district headquarters of Tamenglong on April 2 , at Ukhrul on April 4 and at Chandel and Churachandpur on the following days, he said while expressing optimism that Charenamei will be victorious in the election. It may be noted here that the eight Naga Independent MLAs in the Manipur Legislative Assembly, namely Marung Makunga , Khashim Ruivah, K Raina, Danny Shaiza, Wungnaoshang Keishing , Awangbow Newmai M Thohrii and Khangthuanang Panmei, who have recently set up the Independent Legislature Forum (ILF), have already resolved to support Charenamei. With exception to Thohrii and Panmei, the other six Naga MLAs have been elected with the support and backing of United Naga Council (UNC) which is spearheading the Naga integration movement.

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