Imphal, March 21 2009: Along with officially declaring the sitting Independent MP Mani Charenamei as its candidate for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency which would go to poll in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election in the State on April 16, People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) released the election manifesto of the party today.

With the announcement of the PDA to field Mani Charenamei as its candidate, so far the name of two candidates have been confirmed for the Outer seat.

NCP had already announced LB Sona as its candidate.

While for the BJP, though the party's State Election Committee decided to field D Loli Adanee, clearance of the party high command is still being awaited.

The name of MP Charenamei was announced as PDA candidate by the party president M Maringa during a simple function held at its Ragailong office here today.

The election manifesto of the party was also released on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Mani Charenamei pledged to work for bringing lasting peace in the North eastern region and strive for justice and set right the wrongs.

He said that the need for bringing about a change in the developmental scenario of Manipur has been reflected in the election manifesto of the PDA and every efforts would be made to mitigate problems of the hill people highlighted in the election manifesto.

Informing that he joined PDA recently after being elected as the Independent MP, Charenamei asserted that while being an MP he has consistently worked for upgrading position of the less fortunate classes of the society.

In order to redress grievances of the hill people as a result of negligent attitude of the Government of Manipur, efforts should be made towards providing a level playing field for all, particularly for the less fortunate ones and find solution within the framework of the Indian Constitution, he said, adding that frequent talks are necessary to give no room for any misunderstanding in this regard.

Setting the record straight on the allegation of speaking against Manipur though being an elected MP of Manipur, Charenamei contended that fear and apprehension over speaking out openly among the different communities sometime lead to suppression of the rights of the weaker section, thus impeding process of restoring peace in the region.

He also alleged that inspite of the proposal for increasing the number of Assembly segments in the hill districts to five in the delimitation of 2002, National parties like Congress, BJP and CPI in the State instead of supporting the weaker communities have been speaking against the delimitation.

This is very unfortunate, he said.

Stating that he would continue to speak up for the rights of the weaker communities in the Parliament, Charenamei said nobody should have any objective to enactment of new rules in public interest and efforts towards developmental changes.

Later talking to mediapersons, Charenamei observed that the important points that have been raised by the Naga leaders should be taken note of and discussed seriously by the Government of India in its ongoing peace talks with the NSCN (IM).

While demanding removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act being imposed in Manipur, Charenamei also come out strongly against the brutal killing of Kasom Khullen SDO and his two subordinate staff and said necessary steps should be taken up from the side of the Government in this connection.

PDA president M Maringa who was also present at the occasion maintained that PDA is a political party which do not indulges in communal politics.

As a regional party, PDA advocates equal development of all the communities in the region, the party president dded.

Some of the main points enumerated in the election manifesto of PDA which was released today include protection of lands, forest and mineral resources of the hill people of Manipur, unification of the Nagas and other indigenous people of the State to help in the ongoing peace process, enactment of land laws for the hill areas of Manipur, setting up village authority laws, a separate hill university, construction of a tribal market at Imphal, creation of Manipur Legislative Council, increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats of the State to 3, setting up Tribal Advisory Commission, granting the status of political prisoner to arrested or imprisoned revolutionaries of various groups, etc.

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