Imphal, October 21: `As the political scenario has changed in the country and the Congress continues to fall like nine-pins in various States, we need to seriously discuss the fate of Manipur with regard to the current trend`, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said while addressing the reception programme of newly elected Congress MLA Dr Elangbam Dwijamani in the Congress Bhawan.
Urging the newly elected legislator to serve the people on a war footing as his tenure is short, the Chief Minister also asked all the ministers and MLAs to do the same in their respective constituencies.
The Chief Minister said he is having sleepless nights after the party suffered heavy defeats in many big States across the country following the Lok Sabha poll debacle.
Appealing to all the ministers, MLAs and Congress workers to completely dedicate themselves in undertaking programmes or projects in their respective constituencies from today onwards, he said even though the Congress rule in the State is going to complete three consecutive terms they should not create an environment in which people may raise questions to the government.
We must work hard for the people so as to not lose the confidence of people, he said.
Stating that rumours of decreasing Central funds allocated to Manipur is not true, Ibobi said when the UPA government was in power it didn`™t affect fund allocations to Gujarat and similarly the NDA rule wouldn`™t affect the allocation of central funds to Manipur.
The BJP Manipur Pradesh is no cause of concern for the State government, he said. The development programmes taken up in both hill and valley districts bear testimony to what the Congress has done for Manipur, he stressed.
But we must complete those infrastructural projects and development programmes so that the people of Manipur may not lost hope in the Congress, he added.
MPCC president Gaikhangam said the electoral success in Hiyanglam resulted from the support of ministers and MLAs of the Congress.
Now, the party has regained the seat that it lost. The collective effort of MLAs of the Congress is being witnessed in the Hiyanglam bye-poll, he said.
If this practice continues in the future then the Congress can retain power in Manipur and need not be worried about failing in the upcoming elections, he added.
Hiyanglam people knew the political scenario of Manipur so they supported the Congress by sending an MLA from Hiyanglam, Gaikhangam said.