Cong mess shouldn't distract battle against virus
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 22, 2021 -

WITH exception of political organisa-tions and analysts, the political brou-haha besetting the Congress party's state unit following the resignation of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Govindas Konthoujam and speculation of the six-time MLA along with some other party MLAs either joining the ruling BJP or floating a new party, is unlikely to be gratifying for the public for their immediate concerns would be on when and how the state could wriggle out of the vicious grip of the coronavirus.

In case the pandemic situation does not improve in the coming days or weeks then immense hardship is imminent for the commoners.

However, the common folks would be highly relieved that the unfolding political bedlam is implosion within the Congress party and not a messy issue for the ruling alliance, at-least for now.

Amid the ever deepening Covid-19 crisis situation, political instability would be the last thing in the mind of the public for they have been yearning for the past many months to resume normal chores and recoup whatever they have missed out and lost since outbreak of the vicious pandemic.

Ironically, last year too, it was around this time of the year that a similar political disenchantment besieged the BJP-led government as a consequence of dissonance among allies and backers of the coalition government over ministerial portfolios, among other issues.

The then political pandemonium cropped up when the state was at the peak of the first wave of Covid-19. MLAs of the ruling party and allies tendering resignation or withdrawing support from the government gave the impression to the masses that lust for power was the only reason for ideologically dissimilar political parties ganging up to form the government.

To the commoners, the timing of last year's political stunts during the crisis period and when the state was in the grip of the infectious coronavirus pandemic were equitable to the political class betraying the very principle of good governance.

For a change, the latest episode of the political drama in the Congress set-up wouldn't be of much interest to the ordinary citizens for they could rest assured that the government would continue to focus in fighting the pandemic and live up to the people's expectation that it wouldn't relent from ushering in an era of peace and development.

It's an undeniable fact that incensed with losing power after decades of helming the affairs the Congress never let off the opportunity to play its part in toppling the present regime in the state.

Thus, the fluid political undercurrent within the grand old party would be construed by the public as natural reprisal for its lust of power.

Nevertheless, the commoners would feel strongly provoked in case the incumbent government ignores their plight vis-à-vis the pandemic situation and focuses on complete decimation of rivals.

With the pandemic situation at the national level showing significant improvement in the last few weeks, containing the same here in the state is now in the hands of government of Manipur.

Though draconian measures and acts are never acceptable to the public the state is left with no other option other than empower the police to tackle the situation at any cost.

The government shall also have to encourage the bureaucracy to formulate mechanism to best manage the multiple tasks of ramping up the healthcare infrastructure, judicious delivery of social security schemes such as provision of the promised cash support to pandemic-ravaged section of the society, loans to the needy and food and medical services for the indigent.

Officials working at the administrative level should be encouraged to hack through rules and regulations designed for a more languid pace and strive for immediate tangible results in public interest.