Thaindian News

Imphal, Dec 25 (IANS) With polls to the 60-member Manipur assembly scheduled to be held Jan 28, parties in the northeastern state are gearing up to reach out to the electorate of over 1.6 million people.

Of the 60 seats in the assembly, 19 are reserved for tribals and one for schedule castes.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensified its electoral efforts Sunday with a small gathering at this state capital.

“Congress would be voted out in this election as it has miserably failed to solve even the basic problems of the people,” BJP’s Manipur unit president Shantikumar Sharma said.

“(Chief Minister) Okram Ibobi Singh wrongly dealt with the over 100-day long economic blockade, apart from issues like terrorism and ethnic clashes,” he added.

The state went through a gruelling economic blockade which was launched by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) Aug 1 for conversion of the Kuki tribal majority Sadar Hills area into a full-fledged district.

The move was opposed by the Nagas, who resorted to a counter blockade.

The three-month long blockades led to severe shortage of essentials, including fuel, cooking gas cylinders and medicines.

Sharma also hinted at fielding candidates in most of the 60 seats.

State Congress chief and Power Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei said there is a possibility of militant outfits trying to disrupt the poll process.

“But we believe the people themselves would foil any attempt to create trouble,” Gangmei told reporters.

He added that Congress and Communist Party of India (CPI) will fight the polls together.

In the February 2007 assembly election, the Congress had secured 30 seats while its ally CPI got four. The main opposition Manipur People’s Party managed only five seats, while the BJP drew a blank. Various smaller parties and independents bagged the remaining 21 seats.