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| Women voters stand in queue to cast their votes during the Assembly election in Manipur on January 28. File picture |
Imphal, Feb. 8: The long wait for the election results is “killing” Manipur’s political parties and candidates, whose test of patience began on the poll date, January 28, and will end more than a month later, on March 7, the day results will be declared.
With nothing to do, most are killing time by calculating tentative figures and the likely shape of things after the results are out, while some are taking time off to rest after the hectic election campaign.
Opposition Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) president and convener of the five-party Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), Nimai Chand Luwang, said, “Yes, this time it is the longest ever wait. But we do not mind waiting as we foresee a win. We honour the Election Commission’s decision to start the counting after polling is over in all the states holding elections. We are spending time discussing things.”
When this correspondent visited his party office here, Luwang was found listening to his supporters, who were complaining that some of them who were on election duty did not get postal ballot papers. He asked them to provide him with all documentary proof so that he could bring the people responsible for the goof-up to book.
Luwang is contesting from Wangkhem constituency in Thoubal district against Congress MLA K. Meghachandra.
Manipur NCP president Radhabinod Koijam, too, is killing time calculating figures. “What can we do? We have to wait. I am spending time discussing public grievances with leaders of our party. We, too, discuss seats likely to be won by the contesting parties,” Koijam, a former chief minister, said.
For ministers like N. Biren Singh it is time to take some rest. The irrigation and flood control minister is seeking re-election from Heingang Assembly constituency in Imphal East. “Yes, the wait is really long and, of course, some tension is there. So, I am mostly taking rest at home and spending time talking to political friends and my supporters. What else can I do now?” he asked.
For those contesting for the first time, the tension is a bit too much for their liking. “The wait is really killing me. I am praying that everything is over as soon as possible. I am spending time thinking what would happen if I am elected or defeated,” a Trinamul candidate said.
Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, on the other hand, is regularly attending office. “The chief minister is not worried. He has full confidence of coming back to power for the third consecutive term,” a source close to him said.
But the long gap between the polling and counting has come as a blessing in disguise for the Opposition People Democratic Front (PDF) alliance. It has given the alliance enough time to lobby with non-Congress parties to join up and keep the Congress away from power.
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