The Congress believes that things will be different for it this time in Manipur, party leader Bhakta Charan Das told CNN-News18 in an exclusive interview on the ground on Thursday. In the 2017 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 21 seats in the 60-member assembly against the Congress’s 28 seats, but managed to form a coalition government. Many Congress MLAs switched sides. This time the party has pledged loyalty to its candidates to prevent recurrence. first stage of Assembly elections One in Manipur will be on February 28 and the other on March 5. The results will be declared on March 10.
Das, Congress Manipur The in-charge alleged in the interview that the BJP buys MLAs and uses covert methods to come to power in the northeastern states. Edited excerpt:
There has been a lot of exodus from Congress. Where does the party stand in this situation?
Congress has possibilities. People want change in government. There are coercive measures, unemployment, women’s issues. They (BJP) have failed in every way in this state.
But how many people have left you…
The trend has been that the BJP is trying to grab power by hook or by crook in the smaller states of the Northeast. that is not good. They try in every way and in every way. I would not like to say that but this is the shoddy politics they have brought.
Last time you got numbers but could not form the government. Why do you think people will vote for you again?
The mandate was not respected by the opposition last time. People voted for us but there was a shortage of MLAs. BJP bought MLAs. It wasn’t right.
Congress could not stop its people?
Waiting is a different matter. We were catching up but we didn’t have the numbers. There was a shortage and we did not resort to wrong practices. His legislators became disqualified. He took the wrong path to come to power.
What will you do after the election this time?
We will not allow this to happen this time because our people have taken oath in front of Kangla Fort, Mandir, Masjid. They won’t go anywhere. Plus, we now have a solid group of people. Some people have left, we have also removed the sitting MLAs. This time party people have got tickets…not like last time. We believe they will not leave.
Now you want to remove AFSPA. Why didn’t you do this when you were in power for 15 years?
At that time the situation was different, the situation was not normal. Now the scenario has changed, so it should be removed. Militancy was at its peak at that time. This time everyone is in demand.
BJP leaders say they have changed the ground situation; They say you can’t handle it.
That time was different. Congress handled all the issues properly. Now see what is happening in the name of AFSPA, see what happened in Nagaland. People are brutally killed. Now the power is being misused. This is what civil society wants.
Will you tie up with NPP or NPF if needed after elections?
I don’t believe in this type of politics but those who want to oppose BJP and don’t support their ideology can come together, obviously… now we have an alliance with Left.
Have you complained to the Election Commission?
Bullying is on. They are threatening the candidates. We do not think there will be free and fair elections.
Who will be your chief ministerial choice?
We have leaders of hills and valleys. Congress is the state president, former CM. We believe that change will happen.
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