Leaders at the convention of regional political parties of Manipur on Thursday. (PTI)

Imphal, May 7: Unity may have been the buzzword at the first-ever convention of regional political forces in this surcharged state, but the absence of four of the seven parties that were supposed to be part of the initiative took the sheen off the merger deal that was sealed today by the other three.

The convention, organised at Imphal?s GM Auditorium, was the culmination of negotiations among leaders of the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM), the Okram Joy Singh faction of the Manipur People?s Party (MPP) and the Democratic Revolutionary People?s Party. Representatives of the Manipur State Congress Party, the L. Borajao faction of the MPP, the Naga National Party and the recently launched United People?s Democratic Party were conspicuous by their absence.

Salam Ibohal, leader of the FPM?s legislature wing, said the three parties that had agreed to merge would adopt a common name, flag and symbol. Another convention will be held later this month to unveil the name and flag, to be finalised by a nine-member preparatory committee.

Although the merger is seen as a major political development, not many believe the combination will be a potent one if the remaining regional parties and the MPP faction led by Borajao decide not to fall in line. ?The so-called united regional force is not expected to have much of an impact because barring the FPM, the other two allies have not much of a following,? a source said.

The FPM has 13 legislators in the 60-member Assembly, while the MPP has two. The third constituent had two Assembly members, but both joined the Congress after the last elections.

Veteran leader Nimaichand Luwang, also the convener of the preparatory committee, set the tone for the convention by saying that the objective of forging unity among regional parties was to ?do away with the culture of only national parties forming governments?.

?The high command culture of the national parties ensures that they create problems rather than solve them. If we want to resolve the issues confronting the state today, we should hand over the power of governance to the regional parties,? Luwang, an MPP legislator, said.

R.K.Anand, vice-president of the Democratic Revolutionary People?s Party, said youths of Manipur were disenchanted with the kind of governance provided by national parties. ?The present government (of the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front) did not lift a finger when security forces committed extra-judicial killings and molested women. The three parties that will merge intend to take a new approach towards resolving the state?s problems.?

Former deputy chief minister and FPM chief L. Chandramani Singh said the sole objective behind regional parties coming together was to ?usher in an era of peace and all-round development?.