Okram Ibobi Singh

Sangai Yumpham (Manipur): Their forefathers manufactured the guns for the Royal Army of Manipur to fight the British forces in 1891. Nearly 116 years hence, 6,300-odd Muslim voters of Khangabok Assembly constituency in Thoubal district are set to play a crucial role in another battle slated for February 8 between Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his rival, Laishram Jatra of the Manipur People's Party (MPP).

The high profile political battle is being fought on the banks of the Khongjom River that flows from Khongjom, the place of the last Anglo-Manipur war, with the river demarcating Athokpom of Mr. Ibobi and Khangabok of Mr. Jatra. Historians say that the forefathers of the indigenous Muslims of Manipur were brought from Assam's Cachar district by the Manipuri Kings.

Sonia to address rally

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to address an election rally at Thoubal on Monday to garner support for Mr. Ibobi.

After experiencing five years of governance in a constituency held by none other than the Chief Minister, Hasina Bibi, a mother of 13 children, of this village complained that Mr. Ibobi did not keep many of the promises made during the last election such as providing potable water. Neither any doctor nor any paramedic attends the only dispensary of the village.

Encouraged by complaints of Ms. Hasina Bibi and other villagers, Mr. Jatra is pinning his hopes on the Muslim votes and has been focusing his campaign on the alleged ``betrayal of the Muslim voters by Mr. Ibobi.''

"Promises unkept"

However, Kutub Ali, a farmer, who has a family of 10 members, and some other villagers too said most of the promises made by Mr. Ibobi were not fulfilled, but the village had seen some development work at least in the form of a blacktopped road during the last five years. He alleged that there was no developmental work worth the name when the constituency was held by the CPI for 11 years and the MPP for seven years. ``At least we now have a blacktopped road although there is no safe drinking water, while the power situation is horrible,'' Mr. Ali told The Hindu .

Mr. Ibobi's supporters feel that Mr. Ibobi would be able to secure the support of the Muslim voters and retain the seat. The constituency, with a total electorate of 29,161, has a third candidate, Haji Ashrab of the Samajwadi Party.

Mr. Jatra, who won the seat twice, said the very fact that Mr. Ibobi decided to contest from a second constituency — Thoubal — showed that the Chief Minister lacked confidence about his victory from his present constituency — Khangabok. Switching on a tubelight with the help of a generator to illuminate the room at his residence, Mr. Jatra said: The poor development indicators such as non-availability of power in the constituency speaks volume of the governance. "My cellphone as well as those of my workers are lying idle as there is no power to charge the batteries,'' he said.

Both Thobal and Khangabok are going to the polls in the first phase of the three-phase Assembly polls in Manipur. Altogether 19 Assembly constituencies, 10 in Thoubal district, three in the Ukhurul and six in Senapati district, will go to polls on February 8.

The electioneering was mostly confined to door-to-door and street corner meetings by the parties while party flags and porters dotted the villages of this constituency.

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