Imphal, January 08: In an interesting turn of events, ahead of the 9th Assembly elections, former Union Minister of State Thounaojam Chaoba has been admitted to the MPP and subsequently the veteran politician is set to contest the elections from Nambol constituency.

Addressing the media at MPP office today, the former Deputy Chief Minister conveyed gratitude to the MPP president and other leaders for admitting him into the fold of the regional party.

He said that he felt free and pledged unstinted support to all the resolutions adopted by the MPP for the welfare of Manipur and the people.

Some 2/3 individuals came to his house and informed him that there would be no more threats or restrictions as he has joined MPP with faith in regionalism, Chaoba conveyed while asserting that he would be able to serve Manipur henceforth without any fear or reservation.

After stepping down from the post of president of the State unit of the BJP in January last year, Chaoba did not join any other political party.

Recalling the establishment of MPP, Chaoba informed that when the Congress party was in power at the Centre in 1968, the demand of the people to grant Statehood to Manipur was turned down and Manipur was kept as a Part C State.

Following that MPP was established on December 20 of the same year.

Later Manipur was granted Statehood in 1972.Chaoba who was directly involved in the establishment of the oldest regional party, recounted that he had left the regional party and joined National parties.

Moreover, he was sworn in as Union Minister of State after he was elected the MP from the Inner seat as a candidate of the MSCP.

Lamenting that he was not informed when the suffix "without territorial limit" was added to the ceasefire pact between NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, Chaoba informed that a meeting participated by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister was held amidst the momentous uprising against the geographical extension of the cease fire.

During the meeting, he charged Padmanabiah who represented the Government of India in the peace parleys, for the turmoil in Manipur for which he was stripped off the Ministership, Chaoba said.

After experiencing several ups and downs in his long political career, he joined MPP which was the cradle of his political career with a firm determination to serve Manipur.

Taking part in the press meet, MPP president Dr L Chandramani said that MPP welcomes its founder member Chaoba who returned to the party with a vision to bring about a new Manipur even though he had strayed in the past.

Chaoba's presence in MPP would a big moral booster, he claimed.

Appealing to the people to acknowledge the role that Chaoba has to make MPP the only regional party of Manipur, he declared that MPP would dedicate for the party while at the same time pleading to pardon them if they had committed blunders and misdeeds in the past.

Responding to a query, Dr Chandramani disclosed that MPP would welcome RK Dorendra had he applied to join the party but till date no application has come from the former Chief Minister to this effect.

Saying that two women have applied to contest the elections under MPP in Henglep and Heingang constituencies, the MPP president that the matter would be decided by the Election Committee after studying their capabilities to contest the elections.

He informed that S Ibohal, L Ibomcha, M Nillachandra, L Tomba and N Sovakiran had applied for MPP tickets.

He further hinted that Thangminlen Kipgen may also apply for MPP ticket.

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