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Manipur : Dorendra bides time |
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The Opposition Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) of Manipur said on November 8 it would wait for the Okram Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front Ministry to “commit harakiri” instead of trying to topple it.
The DPA - comprising the BJP, the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM), the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and the Samata Party - unveiled a 30-point common minimum programme at a news conference in Imphal. The move is aimed convincing Governor Ved Marwah that it is the most viable alternative in the event of the Ibobi Singh Ministry losing its foothold.
In a show of unity, the entire leadership of the Opposition alliance, including R.K. Dorendra Singh and M. Bhorot Singh of the BJP, and L. Chandramani Singh, Gangmumei Kamei and M. Nilachandra Singh of the FPM, were present at the news conference.
Chandramani Singh, whose FPM is the dominant party in the Opposition with 13 legislators, acknowledged Dorendra Singh as the leader of the alliance. “He is a leader whom the public trusts. He also has the capability of bridging the gap between the Centre and the State,” he said.
On scepticism about the DPA’s ability to form an alternative government, the FPM president said the alliance could cobble up the “magic figure” despite having only 19 legislators in the 60-member Assembly at present. “Dorendra Singh is one leader who can do it,” he said.
Accusing the Ibobi Singh Ministry of administrative and fiscal indiscipline, Chandramani Singh said the DPA leadership had already apprised the Centre and the Governor about it.
Dorendra Singh, too, was scathingly critical of the Government. He said a DPA delegation had met Central leaders in New Delhi to highlight the “failure” of the Government to do anything good for the State.
If it comes to power, the DPA will try to extract a special economic package from the Centre to ease the State’s financial burden and initiate negotiations with insurgent outfits “without any conditions”, the BJP leader said.
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