Imphal, Jan 3: Unconfirmed reports about the imposition of President’s Rule in the blockade-hit and state assembly elections-bound state of Manipur are the talk of the town in Manipur.
The reports seem convincing when juxtaposed alongside another report of Congress legislators led by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh leaving Imphal for New Delhi after a Congress Legislature Party meeting.
The reports even claimed that the Congress ministers and legislators had rushed to Delhi to talk with the central leaders including the President of India and the president of the All India Congress Committee not to impose President’s Rule in the state at this time.
The reports claimed further that the move of the Congress legislators was taken up based on reports of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to Election Commission of India (ECI) over the prevailing situation in the state which is currently reeling from an indefinite economic blockade on the Manipur sector of the National Highways since November 1.
Reacting to the reports, Human rights activist Irom Sharmila’s political party, the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) stated in a recent release that there should be less intervention of the center in local politics; more powers should be devolved to the states.
The convenor of the PRJA, Erendro Leichombam said,“We oppose the Congress and its incompetence to govern the state effectively but we also don’t believe in implementing President’s Rule by the BJP, before all the possible options are tried out. President’s Rule should be the last resort and we would only support it in the spirit of relieving the people’s sufferings caused by the current volatile and polarized situation.”
However, reliable sources here told this correspondent that the chief minister-led Congress legislators will be holding a meeting with AICC leaders to discuss the party’s activities in connection with the upcoming general election to the 11th Manipur legislative assembly. The state is scheduled to complete the polling and counting process by March 18 next.
CEO goes to work
To ensure successful conduct of the assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, Vivek Dewangan, on Saturday hinted that ECI was likely to announce the poll schedule shortly and with the announcement of the election schedule, the Model Code of Conduct will come into effect. It will apply to the entire state and will be applicable to all candidates, political parties, the state and union government.
