A CPI rally in Imphal (PTI)

For a contestant who has earned the sobriquet “man of culture”, Moriangthem Nara Singh has surprisingly chosen to kick off his poll campaign with a dash of technology.

Click onto www.mnarasingh.co.cc (see picture), and the CPI candidate from the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency looks back at you with all his poll strategies and promises listed below.

Known as the advocate of “culture for peace”, Nara Singh has been instrumental in organising various cultural events, including one in Calcutta and an international polo tournament in Manipur. In fact, one of the most popular sumang leela plays, Lidicegi Gulab (Roses of Lidice), was based on his poem.

And now, Nara Singh is determined to use the parliamentary forum to advocate peace, never mind the fact that he is pitted against Congress’s Thokchom Meinya Singh, who defeated him in the last elections in 2004.

Determined to win, the 60-year-old leader took one step ahead of the Congress candidate by kicking off his election campaign on March 25 in the presence of CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan. He is also the only candidate in Manipur to put up a website as part of his election strategy.

“Manipuri students studying in cities like Chennai and Bangalore suggested that a website be put up and I gave them permission,” Nara Singh said.

Bardhan launched the website during his visit to Imphal on March 26.

Nara Singh is also the first candidate from Manipur to speak about foreign policy and the Indo-Pakistan impasse as part of his election issue.

“I will fight for repeal of draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and for safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur,” he said. On the Indo-Pakistan conflict, he said the two countries should sit down and chart out the road to peace and no third party should be involved in the peace process.

Besides, he thinks India should have an independent foreign policy and demanded universal nuclear disarmament. “I also stand for an alternative path of development based on mobilising internal resources of our country and Manipur,” he said.

Originally from Tentha village in Thoubal, Nara Singh joined the CPI in 1973 after getting a medical degree in homoeopathy from Calcutta Homoeopathy Medical College.

He became an MLA for the first time in 1985 and retained the Wangjing Tentha seat again in 1990. He became a cabinet minister in charge of the veterinary and science and technology departments.

It is during his tenure that Nara Singh introduced an international polo tournament in Imphal, where teams from the US, the UK, Australia, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, the army and of course, Manipur, took part.

When he became the culture minister after winning the seat again in 2002, he came up with the idea of organising the Festival of Manipur: A culture of peace in Calcutta, showcasing various aspects of Manipuri culture.

“This time, I am confident of winning. Everyone now knows Meinya Singh was a non-performer. Earlier, people of Manipur did not know how important Parliament is. Now, they are aware of this. I did not stop my social activities even though I was not an MLA. I reached out to all corners of the constituency and shared their concerns and helped them wherever I could. What I have done will now be counted by the voters, so people have confidence in me and they do realise that I am the best person to represent them in Parliament,” Nara Singh said.

Another source of strength for Nara Singh is the support of the CPM, the Forward Bloc, the RSP and Janata Dal (Secular).

CPI leader Bardhan himself exuded confidence. “The CPI will win one seat in Manipur — Inner,” he said.

There seems to be a pro-Nara Singh wave this time. Whether this wave gets translated into votes only the next few weeks will tell.