The Manipur Youth League (MAYOL) has intensified its statewide mass awareness campaign, “Politics: Vote for National Regeneration,” calling on voters to reject money and muscle power and embrace informed, ethical and accountable politics ahead of the 13th Manipur Legislative Assembly election in 2027.
In a press statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Konjengbam Samananda, MAYOL said the year-long campaign, launched on January 16, 2026, at the Manipur University Auditorium, aims to promote political awareness and encourage electoral reforms through public participation.
As part of the campaign, the organisation held two public meetings on June 28 at Heirok Part III in Thoubal district and Khurai Kongpal Ningthoubung Leikai in Imphal East district.
The first meeting, held at the Tourangbam Leikai Youth Club Hall, featured Social Scientist Dr. Dhanabir Laishram, VLF President Moirangthem Ibemcha and MAYOL President Koijam Suresh as speakers. They observed that Manipur has long struggled to establish a healthy democratic political culture, resulting in a steady decline in governance and public institutions. The speakers maintained that the growing influence of money and muscle power during elections has weakened democratic values and urged citizens to exercise their franchise responsibly.
The second meeting, held at Ebudhou Ebendhou Puribi-Puraba Laibung, was addressed by Impact TV Editor-in-Chief Yumnam Rupachandra, KYDC General Secretary Laishram Arun, KYDC Advisors Pangambam Johny and Toijam Nandababu, and MAYOL President Koijam Suresh.
Addressing the gathering, Yumnam Rupachandra urged voters to critically evaluate candidates before casting their votes. He said the electorate should question candidates about their integrity, competence, commitment to public service and the huge amounts of money reportedly spent during elections, including expenditure running into crores of rupees in individual constituencies. Such scrutiny, he said, would enable voters to make informed electoral choices.
Speaking on the occasion, Koijam Suresh expressed concern over what he described as the continuous decline of Manipur’s economy, governance and social harmony over the past several years. He cautioned that unless people become politically conscious and actively participate in the democratic process, the state’s challenges would continue to deepen.
He also claimed that the erosion of moral values, weakening social capital, environmental degradation and the growing drug menace have severely affected the state’s social fabric. Referring to widespread poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, Suresh alleged that Manipur has emerged as a hotspot for narco-terrorism and maintained that many of the state’s pressing problems are rooted in politics.
Appealing for greater public participation, MAYOL urged the people of Manipur to support its statewide awareness campaign and join the movement for a transparent, accountable and people-centric political system ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
