A fractured Opposition and chief minister O Ibobi Singh's political acumen have, perhaps, worked well for the Congress.
A fractured Opposition and chief minister O Ibobi Singh's political acumen have, perhaps, worked well for the Congress in Manipur in the 2012 assembly election.
In a state ravaged by decades old insurgency, political instability and ethnic problems, the Congress under Ibobi managed to offer a stable government not once, but twice. And the results this time around have been the best for the party in the last 15 years.
That Congress will emerge as the single largest party was on expected line. But what many were not sure about was whether the party would be able to form government on its own.
When Ibobi donned the mantle of Manipur chief minister in 2002, few doubted his political wisdom. But given Manipur's history of myriad problems, many were skeptical about his government's smooth run. Ibobi proved everyone wrong by completing two successive terms.
Political analysts say Ibobi's development initiatives in rural Manipur and his handling of the ethnic problem in a manner acceptable to the majority worked well for the Congress. But what he did best was keeping insurgency under check.
The Nagas want the creation of a unified homeland. Manipur will have to cede large swathes of its land if it materialises. So, to the Manipuris, there are no issues greater than the territorial integrity of their state. Ibobi played this card well.
When Naga rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah wanted to visit his native village Somdal a couple of years ago, Ibobi defied even his central leadership to resist the visit.
"His leadership and focus on developing rural areas stood our party in good stead," said Gaikhangam Pradesh Congress president.
A fractured Opposition also worked well for the Congress. Five Opposition parties, with differences of opinions, ideologies and agenda, had united this election to form the People's Democratic Front (PDF) in a bid to dethrone Congress but only few bought their slogans of peace and change.
The PDF constituents included Manipur People's Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United) and Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The Congress had appointed Assam's health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as election observer for Manipur. Sarma has been a lucky mascot for the party for many years now.
“The UPA government patronised the north-east tremendously. The Congress is only reaping the benefits,” said Sarma.
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