Imphal, Feb. 6: Ending his four-year hibernation, former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam is set to come back to active politics, this time as a leader of the BJP, which is working overtime to dethrone the Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government in the state.
Manipur BJP leaders in the presence of national general secretary Ram Madhav accorded Koijam a reception at the party office, marking his comeback to active politics.
Though Koijam joined the BJP online in 2014, he has not been politically active. During his political hibernation, he was involved in social activities, intervening in "communal divides" by leading Citizens' Committee, Manipur (CCM), an apolitical group comprising university teachers, lawyers, senior journalists and other professionals.
"I have decided to come back to active politics as there is a need to end the Ibobi Singh government's rule and bring good governance in the state. During Ibobi's 15-year rule, the hill-valley divide ca-me up, there is trust deficit among communities and ultimately there is a threat to Manipur's integrity," Koijam said.
Madhav, Northeast coordinator of the BJP, said this would strengthen the party.
Koijam, 74, was chief minister from February to May in 2001. He led a coalition government named Peoples Democratic Alliance and was representing Samata Party then. After leaving Samata, Koijam contested the 2012 Assembly elections as the president of the NCP state unit from Thangmeiband constituency. He lost the election and since then he had kept a low profile.
Sources said though Koijam joined the BJP online in 2014, he had stayed away from being an active BJP member following reservations expressed by some state leaders.
"Good people and seasoned politicians like Koijam are with the BJP. People of Manipur now have the opportunity to oust the corrupt Ibobi Singh government. This opportunity should not be lost," Madhav said.
The BJP released a 20-page booklet, "Chargesheet against Congress: 15 years of loot, 15 years of destruction in Manipur" during the reception of Koijam. The chargesheet has 100 points.
The charges levelled against the government include loss of Rs 30 crore a day because of strikes and blockades, inauguration of "incomplete projects" for electoral gains, failure to give jobs to more than 7 lakh educated youths and failure in education system, among others. The chargesheet said not a single student of the 73 government schools could clear class X examinations in 2016.
"Under the Congress government, Manipur is among the top states in relation to corruption cases in the Northeast. There is zero conviction and zero property confiscation," the chargesheet stated.
Koijam said he would resign as chairman of CCM and# campaign for the BJP. He would not contest this time.
