According to political analyst, it is likely that the 11th Manipur
Legislative Assembly will be held either in the month of January or February of 2017, which is only about 10 months from today. The emergence of popularity of any political parties –beyond doubt is proved by the rise in the number of elected members either it may be in the local body election or Municipal election. The more the specific political party get elected the more is the popularity of that specific political party. So, it is important for each and every political party in the state to get more seats in the upcoming Imphal Municipal Election which is scheduled in May this year. 10 months is a very short period for any political party to campaign for election and besides it is already late to kick start for the upcoming IMC election which is not even 4 months from now. For three consecutive terms, the congress party under the competent leadership of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had ruled the state. The last perhaps is a headache for Mr. Chief Minister as the number of elected member crossed beyond expectations that the number to elect an opposition leader in the house did not reach. Besides, the mergers of some elected members from some political party had reduced the number of non congress MLA to only few demoralising the spirit of being opposition MLA in the house. Thanks to the people of Thangmeiband Assembly constituency and Thonju Assembly constituency by sending up two BJP candidates as their representatives to represent in the State Legislative Assembly even though it is in the bye election. In democracy number matters but the presence of the two MLAs heard healthy functioning of a democracy in the recently concluded 13 sessions of the state assembly. People now realised that sending up qualified candidates not necessarily from the ruling party but rather from other party capable of playing the role of opposition is equally important. This should be turning point for the electors. And it is time that we ponder upon whom to elect irrespective of whether the person we elected will be in the government or not. Now, everyone knows – the real opponents in the political arena this time will be between the Congress and the BJP. Analysts are of the opinion that the election this time bi-party system in nature as the final outcome will be political parties favouring the Congress and the others, favouring the BJP. The question of emerging a third party is not in the card with regard to the present political scenario in the state. March 19, that is tomorrow, will be significant date for BJP Manipur Pradesh , the tussle which stands as an obstacle to proceed campaign for the party is being put on hold with euphoria of centre electing a new state president. Party workers are seen talking, arguing and even debating despite of engaging themselves to expand the party on whom to appoint the next president. On the other hand, the Congress too is in dilemma. The revolt inside the party by 25 congress MLAs is a real problem. Every politician has a dream of becoming a MLA and then Ministers. The moment when Ibobi government was expanded he had promised to reshuffle the ministry after 2 and half year and the assurance turn out another political gimmick to keep the MLAs quite. It is not reasonable if the matter is the real factor to revolt inside the party. But the demand that the dissident MLAs put up this time seems rather reasonable and the party high command had reason to take the matter seriously. It is about one man one post. But the unfortunate part is that the person they are targeting is Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the President of the MPCC. Imphal Times term it unfortunate because Mr. Gaikhangam is significantly playing its role taking advantage of his being a Kabui tribe to protect the territorial integrity of the state. It is an open secret that NSCN-IM has been demanding a separate state by carving out portion of Manipur , Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The magic word or say the mantra of the NSCN-IM is the word Naga – at which only two communities are mentioned in the gazette of Manipur Government. Of the 33 tribes only two are mention as kacha Naga and Naga. It is also a fact that Meitei – the majority community is the main target and it is easy for the NSCN-IM to push up their demand if someone from among the Meitei has been projected for the post. Gaikhangam ’s position as the President of the MPCC and Home Minister is the need of the hour if each so called dissident MLAs love to protect the state territorial integrity. It is election time and those in politics should left no stone upturn to protect the so call motherand Manipur.
