In a move aimed at consolidating opposition forces against the BJP, the 10 political parties under the banner of the INDIA bloc, Manipur, announced Professor Akoijam Bimol of JNU and former MLA Alfred K Arthur, both from the INC as their common candidates for the inner and outer parliamentary seats of Manipur, respectively.
The decision was reached following extensive deliberations among the representatives of the 10 political parties at Congress Bhawan in Imphal.
The primary objective behind this alliance is to defeat the BJP and restore democracy, especially in Manipur, which has been a focal point of political upheaval and unrest.
The participating political parties in this coalition include Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), All India Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, All India Forward Bloc, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, Manipur.
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However, it was observed that representatives from the CPI and JD-U were conspicuously absent from the subsequent press conference held to announce the common candidates which raised questions about the unity and consensus within the INDIA bloc.
Despite the initial endorsement by the CPI of the alliance’s decision, the party had previously announced L Sotinkumar as its candidate for the inner MP seat. While the nomination filing is still pending, the party has sought time to reconsider its candidate in alignment with the bloc’s common agenda.
(PHOTO: IFP)
CLP leader O Ibobi, speaking on behalf of all the participating parties, emphasised the collective sacrifice made by the parties in forgoing their individual candidates to prioritise defeating the BJP. “The overarching goal is to save democracy,” he reiterated.
Stating that the CPI has endorsed the meeting and sought time for reconsidering its candidate, he said, “It is believed that CPI, under a common agenda with secular favour and federal structure, will surely reconsider revoking its announced candidate.”
K Meghachandra, the president of MPCC further elaborated that the election manifesto of the common candidates would mirror the manifesto previously published by the INDIA bloc alliance, ensuring a cohesive and united front against the ruling party.
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However, the CPI, despite pledging support to the common candidate of the INDIA bloc for the outer seat, has not yet made a definitive decision to withdraw its previously announced candidate for the inner seat.
In a telephonic conversation with the Imphal Free Press, CPI candidate L Sotinkumar highlighted the importance of public confidence in the party and its ideology.
“While our primary goal aligns with defeating the BJP, we cannot rush our decisions,” he stated, emphasising the need for a thorough reconsideration of the party’s central committee decision.
Furthermore, Sotinkumar expressed concerns about diverting public attention from pressing issues such as external aggression faced by Manipur amidst the electoral politics.
He emphasised the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes both electoral goals and larger state issues.
