Threat from NSCN (IM) major reason for not contesting from all seats: Gaikhangam
NNN
Imphal, May 4
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has announced that it will field 130 candidates to represent INC for the coming ADC election which will be held on June 1.MPCC president Gaikhangam said that the party has decided not to contest from all the 144 seats due to the threat from NSCN (IM).
The formal announcement was made today noon around 11.30 am at Congress Bhawan, Imphal. Apart from the MPCC president, ADC Election-in charge MLA Victor Keishing, MPCC general secretary Bidyapati Senjam and other leaders also took part in the announcement function.
Gaikhangam said that his party will send out 24 candidates to contest for Churachandpur ADC, 24 for Sadar Hills ADC and 24 candidates for Ukhrul ADC also. However, the party to decided not to contest in full strength for the remaining ADCs, thereby sending out 22 candidates for the 24-seated Chandel ADC, 16 candidates only for the 24-seated Senapati district and 20 candidates for the 24-seated Tamenglong ADC.
Responding to query from media persons on why MPCC failed to contest fully in some ADCs, Deputy CM Gaikhangam said that NSCN (IM) threatening to Congress specifically ahead of the ADC Election is a major reason. However, the party has decided to contest for the remaining seats as Independent candidates and will arrange merging to Congress if they win.
He also added that many willing candidates who could not get party tickets came to the party office and showed their disappointment caused by the NSCN (IM) threat. He condemned the threat and termed it as highly unfortunate for the threat in one way deprives the hill people from their voting rights.
Gaikhangam opined that NSCN (IM) threatening to Congress in particular may be due to the strong stand that has been taking by the party to protect the territorial integrity and boundary of Manipur. Instead of interfering in the election process by threatening, if NSCN (IM) decides to become mainstream and send out their candidates to contest in the ADC, Congress would have welcomed it, Gaikhangam further added. The Deputy CM also assured that the state government will held the ADC Elections in a free, fair and most peaceful manner, and the government has already sought the help of Central government for deployment of Central forces. Out of the six ADCs, Congress will win absolute majority in four ADCs for sure, he predicted.
It may be worth mentioning that BJP Manipur Pradesh, earlier, had announced that it will contest for 130 seats yesterday, thereby equalling the number of seats to be contested with MPCC. Moreover, JD (U) had announced five candidates so far, and Naga People’s Front (NPF) has also announced its list of 78 candidates.
