Fight on issues
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 14 2011 -

Various activities, moves and counter moves among the various political parties as part of the preparation for the election to the 10th Manipur State Legislative Assembly are flying thick and fast, even though it is still early days.

Among these political parties The Naga Peope's Front (NPF) has launched a series of meetings across the naga dominated areas of Manipur. The NPF, one of the oldest regional political parties in the north east, announced its arrival in Manipur amidst much fanfare with the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and party President Shurhozelie in attendance.

There was much opposition from the UCM and other civil society organisations and the government of Manipur initially refused permission to Rio's entry into Manipur fearing that it might create law and order.

But eventually, permissions were granted apparently on "Rio's personal request" to O Ibobi and the Manipur unit of NPF was formally launched on May 28, 2011 at Senapati town.

Since then, the party has been spreading its wings in the Naga dominated areas of Manipur, establishing its district headquarters these past few months in Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Chandel.

In its latest public meeting christened 'Interface with leaders of Senapati District' , the Manipur State Unit President of the party announced its intent to field candidates in all the 11 Naga dominated constituencies of Manipur, signaling its determination to make its presence felt in the 10 Manipur State Legislative Assembly.

Given the the resentment of the Nagas against the Congress led SPG government over various recent issues culminating in the Sadar Hills District demand, the NPF might just end up cashing in on this feeling of injustices done to the Nagas, perceived or real. This might make the NPF an important player in this coming election which the other parties need to watch out for.

Another interesting development is the manifest strain among the SPF partners – the Congress and the CPI. In the 8th Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Congress had just 20 MLAs making it much more dependent on other coalition partners, so the CPI a major coalition partner with five MLAs had much more leverage and conversely the Congress that much more dependent on the coalition partners.

But the scenario changed drastically in the 9th Manipur State Legislature Assembly. Congress with 30 MLAs in its kitty, right on the threshold of an absolute majority, was much more self assured and enjoyed that much more leeway. Mutual resentment surfaced every now and then.

And after the left withdrew support to the UPA government in the centre over the US-India nuclear deal, there were open call from within the congress to drop CPI from the SPF coalition.

Though the CPI put up a brave face saying the SPF coalition was born a full two years before the birth of the UPA and that the union was based on a Common Minimum Programme based on local issues primarily, it was sounding less and less convincing as time went by.

The two parties even indulged in a 'friendly fight' in the election to inner Manipur parliamentary election in 2009, where the 'friendly fight' degenerated into increasingly unfriendly exchanges during the campaign.

And these exchanges have been continuing ever since, at times plummeting to the low of name calling, but somehow the coalition endured.

But the sharp reactions from Dr Nara some days back over the CM's reported statement wherein he ridiculed the role played by the opposition as also the assertion that CPI will review the Common Minimum Programme of the SPF coalition can be taken as a clear sign that the CPI might just find the courage to sever its lies with the Congress.

This would definitely do them a world of good as they are increasingly seen to be clinging on desperately to be part of the SPF government.

Also ideologically speaking, the CPI Manipur cannot justify its continuation in SPF even after the same party had withdrawn support from the Congress led UPA government at the centre.

Let us see the CPI Manipur fight the Congress on issues affecting the common man, the downtrodden, the exploited - the very section of population they claim to represent.