Imphal, March 31: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee today kicked off its election campaign for its Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency candidate Dr Th Meinya at Congress Bhavan today.

Speaking at the function, veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing lambasted the BJP for engineering its "Communal based politics" at certain soft targets of the nation including the North Eastern States.

Rubbishing the BJP claims that it has developed the North Eastern States at par with other States of the country, Rishang questioned as to why the Centre has offered peace bonus to Mizoram and huge economic package to Nagaland without any package for the State.

This clearly shows the kind of policy BJP follows towards States ruled by non BJP parties, he added.

It is a pity that Th Chaoba has joined the BJP a communal minded party which is hell bent on disintegrating the State and has no love for the State or the people, said Rishang adding that the ongoing Indo-NSCN (IM) peace process initiated by the Congress is being used by the BJP as a tool for toppling Congress ruled State in the region.

Highlighting on the AICC-NPC understanding at the Centre, he said that the State Congress unit would field its own candidate in the outer seat despite the AICC-NPC pact at the Centre.

In his presidential speech, MPCC president and Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that chronic problems of the region would be solved only when the Congress comes to power at the Centre.

He also urged the people to support the Congress so as to fulfill the aspiration of the people of the State.

Commenting on the insurgency problem, CM Ibobi asserted that there would be no development without peace and therefore called upon all the UG groups to come forward and join the mainstream.

He also stated that the emergence of a large number of underground outfits in the State has compounded the problems of the State.

Congress candidate Dr Th Meinya while speaking at the function urged the people to be cautious of the wicked ploy played by the BJP in the region.

He also added that the Congress party is committed to safe guard the territorial integrity of the State and to bring about communal harmony besides bringing all round development in the State.

A battery of Congress Minister including Phunzathang Tonsing, N Loken, L Nandakumar, Abdul Salam and Dr Maninuldin Sheikh also spoke at the function.