Victory result of people's faith in Congress: CM
Meinya, Baite felicitated
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May17 2009: People's faith in the UPA government and Congress is behind the victory of the party winning both the parliamentary seats of Manipur, said Chief Minister, O Ibobi.

He was speaking at a function organised at Congress Bhavan to felicitate the two MPs elect namely Dr Th Meinya and Thangso Baite and also to celebrate the victory of the party.

Hundreds of party workers including p rominent leaders of the party, MPCC president Gaikhangam, ministers, Rajya Sabha member Rishang Keishing, etc.

attended the function and took part in felicitating the two newly elected members of Parliament.

C M Ibobi garlands Dr Meinya while MLA Landhoni looks on; MPCC president Gaikhangam garlands Thangso Baite

Speaking on the occasion, Ibobi observed that Congress could win both the parliamentary seats of the state as people have faith in the promises made by the party as it has been able to install a stable government and bring development in the state.

He also urged the party workers to work sincerely to meet the expectations of the people.

"We should not forget the mandate given to the party despite threats that had come from militants during the electioneering," he said.

The Chief Minister also expressed that with the Congress led UPA government returning to power again, Manipur can witness remarkable changes and the party could give more emphasis in obtaining developmental funds from the Centre as the state can now send three MPs including one to the Rajya Sabha.

Congress could win both the seats as people keep faith in the party, the Chief Minister said adding that "It is the bounden duty of the party to make efforts not to lose the faith of the people in the party".

He also said that people don't want promises which are never translated into reality.

Now, the people have realised the policy programmes taken up by the Congress and if the party workers work sincerely for the welfare of the people, changes in the state will come up quickly, he asserted.

Despite disturbances received during the party's campaigns, we could win the election because of the efforts of the workers, he said while appealing to the workers gathered there not to do anything that might lose the people's faith.

Since the central government is led by Congress, the state government could avail funds for various new and ongoing projects.

This will help in speedy development of the state, he said.

MPCC president, Gaikhangam said that it is the first time in the political history of the state that Congress could occupy all the three seats of the two houses of country's highest decision making body, Parliament.

He also said, the mandate given by the people of the state is the signal of coexistence, unity among the people of the state.

"So, let's try to bring about development in the state," he appealed.

Sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Rishang Keishing said as party can produce three MPs, they will urge the central leaders to give a a ministerial berth to one of them.

"We should not do anything to lose the confidence of the people in the party," he said and appealed to the party workers to work hard to respect the faith of the people.

Now, there is no doubt that people have full confidence in the party.

So, they will press the Congress leaders at the Centre to offer a Cabinet minister to one of the three MPs, he added.

Newly elected two MPs, Thangso Baite and Dr T Meinya also lauded the people for keeping confidents to the promises made by them to the people and giving votes to them.

Meinya said with Congress win both the seats, they can consult with the government at the Centre and State and work together for enhancing the developmental works in the state.

Thanso also promised to work hand in hand with the people.

Hundreds of Congress workers and supporters gathered at the felicitation function congratulated the two new MPs of the party.

Mention may be made that Thangso Baite defeated sitting MP Mani Charenamei in the Outer Manipur Parliament by margin of 119798 votes while Dr T Meinya retained his Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat by a margin of 30,960 votes.

Meanwhile, after MPCC chief Gaikhangam along with the two elected MPs took flight to the national capital, New Delhi this afternoon after attending the felicitation function.

Chief minister O Ibobi will also fly tomorrow, official source said.

Ibobi and Gaikhangam are likely to approach Congress leaders at the Centre including UPA convener Sonia Gandhi for a ministerial berth to one of the three MPs (including one for Rajya Sabha) in the second consecutive term of the Congress led UPA government which is underway at New Delhi.