PDF woos parties outside alliance

Imphal, Feb. 7: Confident of emerging as the single largest group, the five-party Opposition pre-poll alliance in Manipur, the Peoples' Democratic Front (PDF), has started lobbying with other non- Congress parties to bring them together on a common platform.

The PDF include the Manipur Peoples' Party (MPP), NCP, Janata Dal (U), the CPM and the RJD.

The Trinamul Congress, Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and the BJP, other major Opposition groups, are not part of the alliance.

"The PDF will win more than 20 seats and we will be the single largest group. Efforts are on to bring the remaining non-Congress parties together to prevent return of the Congress misrule," the convener of the front, Nimai Chand Luwang, told The Telegraph today.

However, the PDF does not include the Naga Peoples Front, which is expected to open its account.

The PDF is willing to join hands with the CPI, which was a partner in the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front ministry for two consecutive terms, and also with the BJP.

Luwang said the alliance partners could not bring all the non-Congress parties into the alliance's fold before the polls because of the little time they had between the election announcement and poll date and last date of filing of nomination papers.

The front has to bring the Trinamul Congress and the MSCP into the alliance if it wants to prevent the Congress from returning to power.

The Congress is contesting in all the 60 seats and party leaders are hoping to win a majority.

The Trinamul is contesting in 47 out of 60 seats and the MSCP in 34 seats. The two parties are waiting for the results before taking their respective stands on which side they would go. These two groups are expected to win at least eight to 10 seats.

"We are in touch with both the Trinamul Congress and the MSCP. We are confidant they will not side with the Congress and will go with us," Luwang, also the president of MPP, said.

Luwang said the target of the PDF was to end the 10-year "misrule" by the Congress and was not after power.

"We don't project anyone as the chief minister. We are not after (ministerial) posts either. We are ready to sacrifice for a better Manipur. We want to save Manipur from the Congress," Luwang said.

He said during the 10-year rule by the Ibobi Singh government 5,000 people were killed by both the state and non-state actors, blockades were frequent, prices rose, development and health sector were a complete failure.

"Letting the Congress come back again would put the state into the same situation and people will continue to suffer. If all the non-Congress parties believed in bringing a change in Manipur they all should join hands."

Counting of votes will start on March 6.