IMPHAL, April 10: Nimaichand Luwang, president of the Manipur People’s Party charged that the Congress party won the recent election with a landslide victory by using money and muscle power.
He further charged that the state officials from top to bottom were in cahoots with the ruling Congress government and such favoritism was one of the main factors for the MPP’s downfall and the Congress’s victory.
Breifing media during a press meet held at the party’s office near pologround today, Nimaichand stated that amongst the various reasons of the regional political party’s failure to deliver in the recent assembly election, one is the MLAs who won seats were not content with the financial status of the party but were rather inclined towards the Congress who had the capability to ‘donate’ huge amounts for each Congress candidate.
“The MLAs were rather inclined to be with the party with deep pockets”, he maintained.
He further charged that some of those who were elected as MPP MLAs in the previous election were too money minded and failed to stick to the true ethos of the regional party and neither were they working for the development of the party.
“The MLAs of the MPP did not take the role of being true opposition members seriously, they were looking forward to joining the fold of the Congress”, Nimaichand alleged.
It may be mentioned that RK Anand of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and Ng Bijoy of Khurai a/c erstwhile MPP MLAs had defected to the Congress party just before the last election.
Nimaichand further charged that many Congress candidates spent in the tune of crores in violation of the ECI norms.
“We know that amounts upto 10 crores were utilized by Congress candidates in the last elections. The whole election was a debacle and it is clear that the Congress does not have the mandate of the people, but votes have been bought”, he alleged that there were much unaccounted expenditures and the ECI have failed in all counts to take cognizance of the fact.
Mentioning that the police forces, Manipur Rifles including other military forces were in hands with the Congress to further their ends, he charged that families of voters were bribed in the tune of Rs 10,000 for each family.
The ex MLA contended that the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be a straight fight and the MPP joining hands with their allies is confident of winning the election and defeating the Congress”.