The Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 12 has given recognition to a new political party based in Manipur “Kuki People's Alliance (KPA)” which was formed recently.
With the recognition of KPA as a political party, the ECI has awarded it a registration number 56/232/2021 -22/ PPS -UV under section 29A of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951.
The party is headed by retired IRS Tongmang Haokip as president, Chinkholal Thangsing as vice-president, retired IRS WL Hangshing as general secretary and Sominthang Doungel as secretary (information, media and publicity).
As per the narrative text of the formation of the party, the KPA was formed after considering the need to have a strong and a stable political platform to express and promote the Kuki national ideology, protect their national identity and preserve their national heritage.
KPA is targeting to produce its candidate to at least 10 Assembly constituencies in the upcoming Assembly election of Manipur where there are dominant Kuki populations and depending upon the popularity of the candidates and his or her background, said its president Tongmang Haokip during an interview in Northeast Live.
As per the party’s vision document signed by Tongmang, it stated that an overview off the vast spectrum of the present government's performance reveals discrimination at different levels of social strata and the glaring gap between the hill and the valley in terms of development.
It pointed out that for 15 per cent of the land area of the state and 55 per cent of the population in the valley, the amount spent is 70 per cent of the state's annual allocated budget and whereas for 85 per cent of the land area (hill areas) and 45 per cent of the population, the amount spend is only 30 per cent of the state's allocated budget.
This unfair allocation of the state's allocated fund and resources has been continuing since the attainment of statehood (1972) and till today there is no serious attempt on the part of the government to take up any corrective measure, it said, adding, “There is need to redefine development paradigm by aligning the development prospect of the hill and the valley. The KPA will take up this issue seriously with firm commitment.”
It stated that there is a need for commitment to pro-people governance, firm belief in secular ideals and social justice, rejection of VIP Culture and total rejection of money and gun culture not only at the time of election but in the course of administration and governance.
This can only be possible if the people put their faith and trust in the KPA and give their mandate to install their own government ‘a government of the people, by the people and for the people,’ it mentioned.
