CMs colleague,rival 038; nephews opponent

Its a head-on collision between two of Manipurs biggest political stalwarts.

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Its a head-on collision between two of Manipurs biggest political stalwarts. Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and his rival within the Congress,Y Erabot Singh,will battle it out,one by proxy and the other in person,in Wangkhei,the latters home seat in the heart of Imphal.

A dissident from the start,Erabot is commonly known as the only obstacle between Ibobi and chief ministership. It is Ibobis nephew Okram Henry who is taking on Erabot on a ticket from the Manipur State Congress Party,but it is common knowledge who is actually challenging the rival in this multi-ethnic constituency.

Erabot is an extremely popular Congress figure in the state,known for the fearlessness he showed during an economic blockade in 2010. He travelled to National Highway 53,without protection,and secured a fleet of trucks with goods that he then escorted back to Imphal. Voters here say he was welcomed in Imphal by crowds of grateful residents and a shower of flowers. He has massive support from young Manipuris on Facebook and other websites,although he has himself kept away from any form of online campaigning.

Erabot is one of the few Congress leaders who have ventured out for campaigning,defying militant threats. With four personal guards with SLR rifles,he walks from house to house in Wangkhei with 30-second stops. A quick handshake and he proceeds to the next house. He doesnt need to do more than this, says a Congress worker.

I am not scared of any of the militant groups. They have not threatened me personally,I have not received any calls,so I will not stop campaigning. They only have a problem with Ibobi, he says.

Things have not been quite as easy for his supporters and his workers,though. Congress workers say that they dont venture out by day. The groups have issued a list of workers they will target and my name is the first. So I campaign under the cover of darkness,says a senior party worker. Otherwise I just send word through family contacts and friends.

Party workers say the threat to Erabot is less than to other Congress leaders. They know he is not only a member of the ruling party but also one of the opposition,so to speak. He is known to be anti-Ibobi and has had a number of run-ins with him over many issues, says a party worker.

Story continues below this ad

Some of Erabots main concerns are the mishandling of the 2011 three-month-long economic blockade,the deteriorating law and order in Imphal,and the allegation that Ibobi has spent 80 per cent of Central funds on his home turf,Thoubal,leaving 20 per cent for eight more districts.

Another threat to Ibobi is Erabots contacts in the party,his son having studied with Rahul Gandhi in Doon School.

Wangkhei has a dominant Meitei population,plus Kuki colonies,Naga villages,a major Muslim pocket,and a sizeable number of people of Bihar origin.