Someone asked as to who actually won in the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency election. Is it the Congress party or the candidate Ak Bimol Akoijam who won? Given the circumstances in the state, the question was quite pertinent. Maybe, the Congress party stopped the march of Narendra Modi right in the tracks to a full-blooded majority at the national level. But the response and statements of its national leaders with regard to the Manipur conflict was quite controversial. The public distaste against the BJP leadership was more in terms of its lethargic response and double standards while dealing with the conflict.
On the other hand, the Congress in its all-out effort to discredit BJP resulted in antagonising the valley people. Majority of the Meiteis were Hindus with a sprinkling of people from other faiths, while the reigning government was of BJP. So, they played the Hindu card to the hilt which was in tandem with the victim card played by the Kukis who were of Christian faith. State BJP leaders along with their minions more or less confirmed the imagined religious divide by their hate agenda and knee-jerk responses.
Instead of clearing the misrepresentation in a mature way as a responsible party in power, they joined the mob. On the part of the Congress party, the people expected something more to present the real picture to the outside world and clear any misgivings. We know, the party has been almost decimated in the assembly election with only five MLAs in the 60-member house. It is the same predicament as compared to the party at the national level, yet they came back with a roar by taking along the people on its side besides the other parties in the Opposition.
So, either it is a case of state Congress leaders failing to present a clear picture of the conflict or their opinion was slighted by the central leadership. Once we were quite perplexed with whether the state leaders are on the same wavelength with the Central leaders on the Manipur unrest and the issues surrounding it.
As early as May second week after violence broke out, AICC incharge Bhakta Charan Das demanded President’s Rule to quell the unrest in the state. Das alleged that Meitei militia groups are behind the arson of churches and looting of weapons from police camps. He said that some militia groups, which had the blessings of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, destroyed churches belonging to the Meiteis too.
Of course, the state Congress Legislature party leader and former Chief Minister in a later press conference did say that the Congress party always stands for the unity and integrity of Manipur and will not compromise when Manipur's integrity is threatened. But the damage had already been done. Congress also joined in the chorus of the anti-Meitei campaign.
At the national and international scene, the so-called liberal media, driven by their anti-BJP stance, practically demonised the Meiteis. Then, how did the Congress candidate manage to clinch a victory in spite of all the negative circumstances. The answer lies in the choice of its candidate. An outspoken intellectual and a stranger to the murky deals of politics was chosen and here the hand of a consummate politician in the person of Opposition leader O Ibobi is suspected.
Despite protestations from within the party fold, O Ibobi banked on Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and the gamble paid off. Hence, it was the sheer drive and conviction of Prof Bimol which led Congress to victory. Congressmen may choose to bask in the glory, but the real credit should go to the candidate.
(The views expressed are personal)
