IMPHAL, May 14: Although the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have announced most of its candidates for contesting in the ensuing Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) elections to be held on June 2, other political parties are sticking to thier own strategies as far as fielding of candidates is concerned.
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) which has four MLAs in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly has decided not to field any candidate in the election.
Talking to this daily, AITC MLA Th Shyamkumar Singh said that the party is focussing only on Assembly and Parliament elections not on IMC election so it will not be fielding any candidate in the ensuing election.
As for Manipur People’s Party (MPP) which is one of the oldest regional parties in NE region, party president N Sovakiran Singh said some individuals have applied to the party wanting to contest in the election on its ticket.
He further said that the regional party is closely following the demand made by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) for barring non-locals from voting and contesting in elections to safeguard the indigenous people.
If the government does not fulfil the demand then the party may boycott the IMC election in support of JCILPS-led movement, Sovakiran declared.
For Communist Party of India (CPI), the party has decided to field candidates in five wards in the election so far.
One candidate has even filed nomination from his ward. The total number of candidate of the party for contesting in the election is currently five. The number of candidates is likely to increase, said secretary of CPI-MSC Dr M Nara Singh speaking to this daily.
He contended that the IMC election will not be conducted in free and fair manner as massive money power is going to get involved as a tool to woo voters.
As far as Lok Janashakti Party (LJSP) which has only one MLA in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly is concerned, the party is planning to field at least two or three candidates for the election.
LJSP MLA Karam Shyam Singh said that a decision will be announced at the earliest.
Expressing to IFP, state coordinator of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Manipur Unit Thoudam Manihar Singh said that the party is having serious discusions on whether to field its candidates in the election or not.
AAP, Manipur is a poor political party. The first and foremost question asked by intending candidates is that how much money the party can sanction to them for contesting in the election, he said.
State secretariat member of CPM Ksh Shanta expressed that the main target of the party is the general election.
He said that since CPM is in alliance with the left parties, the decision whether to field candidates in the IMC election or not will be collective.
Leader of Janata Dal (United) Moirangthem Tombi speaking to this daily said that the party is planning to field only five candidates for contesting in the election.
He also said that many have approached the party to give ticket for contesting in the election but the party is not willing to field candidates just for namesake.
Speaking exclusively to this daily, Manipur Democratic People’s Front (MDPF) leader G Tonsana Sharma expressed desire for taking up various developmental measures for Municipal Council like Shiv Sena has done in Mumbai.
But this is not going to happen in the State as political leaders are in the run of gaining money instead of ensuring needs of the public, he stated.
Calling upon the political parties to work sincerely for the public, he added that the party will field candidates in the election if willing individuals approach to contest in the election on the party ticket.
Meanwhile, State BJP has not able to grant ticket as for Thangmeiband Ward Number 3 due to conflict amongst two aspiring candidates for contesting in the election.
In this regard, a meeting of BJP Manipur Pradesh state election committee was held today which was chaired by the newly appointed party president K Bhabananda.
The meeting minutely discussed about the confusion on allotting ticket to the two aspiring candidates namely Newtonchandra, sitting Councillor and Nimbus, state secretary of the party.
After having a threadbare discussion, the meeting decided to allot party ticket to Th Bijen Singh for Ward No 20 (Yaiskul).