Imphal, September 12: General secretary of the AICC and in charge of North East, Oscar Fernandes who arrived here today on a one day visit, has announced that the AICC will extend all its support to the State Congress in the upcoming Assembly election against the backdrop of the prevailing law and order situation.

Addressing Congress members and workers at GM Hall today, Fernandes assured that all possible help will be extended for the smooth conduct of the upcoming election.

Fernandes arrived today to oversee the organisational set up of the party as well as to plug loopholes if any, as part of the preparation for the Assembly election.

He is accompanied by AICC in charge of Manipur, Sanjoy Babana.

Fernandes advised the Congress members to draw up an action plan to highlight the achievements of the Congress SPF Government and the UPA Government at Delhi and added that all Congress MLAs and PCC members should live up to their responsibilities.

The AICC general secretary added that AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will soon visit Manipur to get a first hand account of the situation here.

Chief Minister O Ibobi who also addressed the meeting urged all the Congress members from the grass root level to work unitedly for the success of the party in the next election.

All the party workers should try their best to ensure that the confidence and trust of the people in the Congress is not eroded.

The good faith has come because of the cordial relationships between the Government and the Congress as an organisation, he observed.

Adopting a confident tone Ibobi said that no efforts will be spared to ensure that the party gets absolute majority.

Expressing concern over the law and order situation and threat perception from underground organisations, the Chief Minister opined that adequate security may be arranged of the election is held in five phases (Two ACs in each phase).

The Chief Minister also drew the attention of Oscar Fernandes to the likelihood of the NSCN interfering in the poll process in the hill areas.

The cease fire between the rebel groups and the Government of India is enforced only in Nagaland, said the Chief Minister and implied this to Fernandes.

Significantly Oscar Fernandes is heading the Group of Ministers in the negotiation with the NSCN (IM).

Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing also drew the attention of the AICC general secretary to the threat perception arising ut of the law and order situation and the danger it poses to the smooth conduct of the upcoming election.

The seasoned politician also urged the AICC to take up all possible security measures to thwart the attempts of anti-social elements to derail the poll process.

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