Correspondent
IMPHAL, May 17
THE change of guard at the Centre will not affect the Congress-led government in Manipur, said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
Ibobi, who was instrumental in the re-election of the sitting Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur this time, was speaking at the reception function of two sitting MPs of the party Dr Thokchom Meinya and Thangso Baite who were re-elected as MPs from the Inner and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies, at Congress Bhavan in the heart of Imphal town this morning.
Dr Meinya and Baite have retained their respective parliamentary seats for the third and second times by a margin of 94,674 and 15,497 votes respectively from their nearest rivals CPI candidate Dr M Nara and NPF candidate Soso Lorho on Friday.
Stating that the ups and downs are natural in politics, Ibobi felt that the plan size of the state are fixed by the Planning Commission of India and there is no question of depriving the rights if there is a non-Congress government at the Centre.
Congratulating the two re-elected MPs, he further stated that the central government will not do anything against the state government if the state timely submits the utilization certificates of projects on time.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), speaking on the occasion, claimed that anti-incumbency factor could not affect the party as the people of the State are thoughtful.
He also cautioned the people of the State to be very careful as parties like Nagaland-based Naga People’s Front (NPF) and others managed to get votes from unexpected areas.
The re-elected MPs Dr Meinya and Baite also spoke on the occasion. Both of them appreciated the people’s verdict and support extended by the Chief Minister.
Expressing concern over the report of having a communication gap between them and the people in their previous terms, they assured the people that they will give better performance this time.
The day’s reception ceremony was also attended by Cabinet ministers, MLAs, Rajya Sabha MP and Congress workers.
Ibobi-led Congress government has as many as 43 Congress MLAs supported by 5 Manipur State Congress Party MLAs who recently merged with the party with Congress.
