IMPHAL, December 30 (Agencies): RJD withdrew its support to the ruling Congress-led government and joined the NCP-Manipur People's Party (MPP) pre-poll alliance barely three days after JD (U) joined the alliance, which aims to defeat the Congress in the ensuing tenth Manipur assembly polls slated for January 28 next year.
RJD, which has three seats in the sixty member assembly, is looking forward to field its candidates from 45 constituencies in the hills and valley districts in the ensuing election. "The joining of RJD to the opposition alliance has already been confirmed by the MPP president, Nimaichand Luwang," said Manipur unit RJD president-in-charge, K Kumarjit.
Since the party sees no transparency in the ruling Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, it has withdrawn its support and joined the opposition alliance, he said, adding that these steps were taken after approval from the party leaders at the Centre. A maiden meeting of the state coordination committee set up to monitor the polls was also held on Wednesday. In the meeting, various state government departments were asked to take up certain responsibilities during the election.
The meeting, chaired by Manipur chief secretary D S Poonia, was held at the state secretariat complex here. It was decided that the militants groups with whom the government has been holding all forms of peace deals including the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SOO) will be asked not to interfere with the poll process, an official source said.
Around 20 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur are parties to the ongoing SOO, a tripartite agreement between the state, the Centra and these groups. The Assam Rifles and army officials will also be asked to restrict all cadres of such groups to their respective designated camps set up in the hill districts, the source added.
While discussing the logistic support and environmental security that should be provided by security forces, the meeting also deliberated on communication and transportation for the polls. The state transport department was entrusted with the task of requisitioning vehicles for utilizing them in the upcoming polls. The meeting discussed identifying deplorable school buildings to be used as polling stations by the respective deputy commissioners.
RJD, which has three seats in the sixty member assembly, is looking forward to field its candidates from 45 constituencies in the hills and valley districts in the ensuing election. "The joining of RJD to the opposition alliance has already been confirmed by the MPP president, Nimaichand Luwang," said Manipur unit RJD president-in-charge, K Kumarjit.
Since the party sees no transparency in the ruling Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, it has withdrawn its support and joined the opposition alliance, he said, adding that these steps were taken after approval from the party leaders at the Centre. A maiden meeting of the state coordination committee set up to monitor the polls was also held on Wednesday. In the meeting, various state government departments were asked to take up certain responsibilities during the election.
The meeting, chaired by Manipur chief secretary D S Poonia, was held at the state secretariat complex here. It was decided that the militants groups with whom the government has been holding all forms of peace deals including the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SOO) will be asked not to interfere with the poll process, an official source said.
Around 20 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur are parties to the ongoing SOO, a tripartite agreement between the state, the Centra and these groups. The Assam Rifles and army officials will also be asked to restrict all cadres of such groups to their respective designated camps set up in the hill districts, the source added.
While discussing the logistic support and environmental security that should be provided by security forces, the meeting also deliberated on communication and transportation for the polls. The state transport department was entrusted with the task of requisitioning vehicles for utilizing them in the upcoming polls. The meeting discussed identifying deplorable school buildings to be used as polling stations by the respective deputy commissioners.
