Now, the Government has come into existence. But the big question is how much will they performed for welfare of the State?

With a hope of good governance and development, the people of Manipur have given their mandate to the Congress party to the recently concluded 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly election. By winning 30 seats by the Congress, in the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, Congress-led the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government under the Chief Ministership Okram Ibobi Singh has come into power as a second successive term.

O. Ibobi is the first Chief Minister of the State to have completed a full five-year term in office. He is also unanimously re-elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). In the newly formed Government, as partners, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has four MLAs and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) three.

Out of 60 nominees initially announced, Congress party fielded 59 candidates to contest in the election after one of its candidates was forced to resign under threat. The Congress won 30 seats. Interestingly, in the political history of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh marked a record by winning from two constituencies of Thoubal and Khangabok respectively.

To find an overall view of the people, an opinion poll was conducted in this website after the final election verdict. The question was: Will the year 2007 will herald a new beginning and fare better than year 2006 for Manipur in general? The result is: 18.3% are optimistic for 2007, 21.4% feels that it will be worst than 2006 and 60.4% says it will not change at all. The total cast vote was 3428 till that per cent. So, will the Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh bring the confidence of the people in his second innings?

Another opinion poll was also conducted in the same website after Okram Ibobi Singh becoming Chief Minister for the second term. The question was: Are you happy with O Ibobi Singh becoming CM of Manipur for the straight two terms? Interestingly, there is an overwhelming positive result for O. Ibobi Singh -- 50.1% say give positive signal, 44.0% say negative and 5.9 give doesn't matter opinion. The total cast vote was 7396 till that per cent. So, the rising star, the Chief Minister of Manipur has to perform well in this innings. As an assurance, Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh said his Government would work for peace and development in the State.

During a welcome function of a newly elected Congress MLAs at the conference hall of Congress Bhawan at Imphal, Union Minister and member of Congress Working Committee Oscar Fernandes appealed to all the newly elected representatives to work in unity with a clear vision of working for the interest of the people. The Congress MLAs should try to translate the aspirations of the people into action, he added.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Gaikhangam, who retained his Nungba AC seat also said in the occasion that the faith reposed on the Congress party should not be wasted and added that it should be the responsibility of all the elected MLAs of the party to honour the trust of the people. Now the ball is in the court of Congress-led SPF Government. Weather they would translate the aspirations of the people into action only time will tell. Let's wait and watch.

In spite of claiming by O. Ibobi Government that they have done some of the main homework in the last term, still there are many burning issues, which need to be looked at closely. Some of them are in front of development, maintenance of law and order and bringing a peaceful state.

Talking of development newly-elected Congress MLA from Thanga Constituency N. Mangibabu said," Our first work is to do what we have said in our manifesto. Everything has been reflected in our manifesto and accordingly we will try to do that" When asked some of the main points in the manifesto, he replied," To safeguard the territorial integrity of the state and to complete all the ongoing programmes and newly taken up programmes."

He also assured that at any level all the funds invested both for hills and plain would be used for the development. In a question about territorial integrity of the State, Mangibabu said," Congress party stand for the maintenance of territorial integrity of the state. Even Sonia Gandhiji said recently during election campaign that territorial integrity would not be compromised under any circumstances."

The youngest among the recently elected MLAs is Congress MLA Sh. Meghachandra from Wangkhem Constituency who defeated Manipur People's Party candidate (MPP) Dr Nimai Chand Luwang, who has been elected for the last 25 years from the same constituency. The young politician feels that the outgoing candidate did not do much work for the development of his constituency.

So he wants to do maximum work in the front of development. He said," In the last 25 years there is no change and development in our constituency. So this time I will do maximum work in the development of road and communication and education. He also added that in this term Congress-led Government is going to achieve a major development work.

Corruption in the state is not lagging behind from other states. When asked how he will fight this social evil, Meghachandra said, "We need cooperation from the people side also to eradicate corruption from the state. He committed that he would work sincerely without any corruption.

Moreover, the real issues like the repeal of draconian law the Arm Forces Special Special Power Act, 1958 from entire Manipur still the demand of the people. The purpose of imposing the Act is to curb the insurgency in the state. Instead, insurgency is increasing in the state.

Rather the power given by this Act to the arm forces are misused. Under this Act many innocent people have been tortured, arrested, rape and even murdered. How long will this Act be in Manipur? An assurance from the concern authority has no any impact. People rather want to repeal the Act soon as they are the real victims of this Act.

Referring to the law and order situation in the state during her recent visit for election campaign in Manipur, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said," The Congress-led State Government had withdrawn the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in seven Assembly segments in the Imphal municipality and was looking forward to doing so in other parts of the State as the situation improved." How long such delaying tactics of the Centre Government continue? The real issues need to be addressed soon to earn the trust of the people.

Sonia Gandhi also said that the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre was ready for discussion with insurgent groups provided they gave up violence and the gun culture. She said, "The insurgents made attempts to destroy social harmony. They have not succeeded as the people of Manipur do not support them."

The real challenges of the O. Ibobi Singh Government lies in the fulfillment of the promises made during the election. Even Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said during electioneering at Tamenglong in Manipur that the National highway 53 would be improved. He also said that the UPA Government at the Centre and the Manipur Government were committed to the development of the State. Appreciating the performance of the talented sportspersons of the State, the Prime Minister said the Government would always extend help to talented boys and girls.

Though the Congress-led Government is proud of having a stable Government in the last term, which completes the full 5 years in office, they cannot assure of another success as they still depend on other partners like RJD and CPI. In what intention RJD have joined the new Government, RJD president (Manipur unit) and two times Chief Minister of Manipur Wahengban Nipamacha Singh said, "This time number of Congress MLAs is only 29, though they secured 30 seats.

The 29 candidates cannot form the Government. So, it is quite necessary to form a stable Government whether it is good or bad." He added, "In the Centre also the present Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a coalition Government. It has got alliance with RJD, the next second party to Congress. Left Front, CPI, CPM and others do not function in the Government. Their support is outside support.

That's is why we would like to join and participate in the Government." When asked about the demand of forming the South Nagaland by NSCN (IM), W.Nipamacha said, "Manipur merged in India with definite boundary in 1949. If there is a change, supposing South Nagaland or Greater Nagaland is formed, then there will be a breakdown of the Merger Agreement between Manipur and Union of India."

In the front of road, transport and communication Manipur has been in a sorrow condition since many years. Still there is no Railway in the state. Though the foundation stone has been laid down to reach up to Imphal, the work is not progress much. In a question regarding his effort to bring Railway in Imphal, being a partner of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, to newly elected MLA of RJD from Lilong constituency, Md Helaluddin Khan said that he would approach Railway Minister again to fasten the Railway project up to Imphal.

Now, the ball is in the court of the Government. Keeping in mind the wishes of the people Congress-led SPF Government has to deliver the promises made during the election. Mind you the people of Manipur are political conscious. If the Government wants to serve the third term as a record, do your homework without any delay.

Action speaks louder than the words.