Ibobi proves critics wrong,scripts Cong hat-trick in Manipur

Known as a soft-spoken leader,Singh is also credited with bringing political stability to Manipur as very few chief ministers in the state could complete their terms before he became chief minister in March 2002. Although Opposition parties including Naga People’s Front (NPF) and Manipur Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) highlighted alleged failures by his government,Singh focused mainly on charting a new path of peace and development in the insurgency-infested state during his rigorous campaigning.

With today’s win,Singh joined the ranks of Congress chief ministers of Delhi (Sheila Dikshit) and Assam (Tarun Gogoi) who had led the party to victory for three consecutive terms in assembly polls in their states. Opposition Trinamool Congress,NPF,Manipur State Congress,NCP,CPI,CPI-M,JD-U and BJP had formed an alliance ahead of the polls to check the Congress but their efforts did not fructify.

Singh,who hails from the politically important Thoibaldistrict led from the front banking on development plankwhile calling upon insurgent groups to chart the path of peaceand amity in the state.

MPBSingh had come under severe criticism for his handling of the economic blockade that began on August 1 and resulted in skyrocketing prices of essentials commodities,petrol,diesel,LPG and medicines. But despite widespread resentment,he managed to sail through the electoral battle with a comfortable majority for the Congress. Various NGOs and human rights groups criticised him for failing to convince the Centre to withdraw the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Manipur. Born to Okram Angoubi and Lukamani Devi on July 19 in 1948 in Thoubal Athokpam,Singh,a graduate in arts,was first elected to fourth Manipur Legislative Assembly as an Independent candidate in 1984. He was chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Board from November 1985 to January 1988. In 1990,he was re-elected to the fifth Manipur Legislative Assembly Congress ticket and became Industries minister. He was again elected to the assembly in March 2002 and became the chief minister.

Singh was also a known social worker having keen interest in establishing schools,clubs and cooperative societies in rural areas. He was an active student leader and held the position of secretary in Athokpam High School from where he did his schooling. Singh has one son and two daughters. In the 2007 assembly polls,the Congress had won 31 seats in the 60-member assembly,but this time the tally improved further.