Churachandpur, February 17: With the second phase elections to the 8th Assembly within shaking hands distance Congress candidates contesting in Churachandpur got the much needed fillip with Congress heavyweight Mani Shankar Aiyar addressing a well attended meeting at Young Paite Association hall in New Lamka today.

In his address, Aiyar stressed on the need of development in the State, which only a Congress ruled government can provide.

He compared the five fingers of Congress� hand symbol to five basic principle of the party � stability, integrity, honesty, peace and development.

He also pledged that the Congress would protest the integrity of Manipur.

Stating that only the Congress can ensure stability and hence progress, Mani Shankar Aiyar exhorted the gathering to give their whole hearted mandate to Congress� candidates in the district and the State as a whole.

Referring to the Shillong and Mizo Accord as landmark achievements for the Congress in trying to bring peace and development in the northeastern region, Aiyar described Manipur as the worst insurgency affected State with �underground working overground.� Coming down heavily on BJP for colluding with NSCN (IM) to garner petty votes in the hill districts of the State, he lamented the withdrawal of certain candidates in Chandel district at the insistence of the UG described it as trampling of democratic rights.