Meitei Alliance Appeals Candidates to Show Loyalty to Meitei Unity and Agenda

March 30, 2024

Ref. No.: 20240330 Appeal

Today is March 30, 2024, the last day for the withdrawal of candidature by those who have filed nominations to contest the General Election to the 18th Lok Sabha, scheduled for April 19, 2024. 

Unfortunately, we are utterly taken aback that when Meiteis should have been united for a common agenda to contest for the single parliamentary seat, six of them have not delved either into finding a common candidate or reconciled to reduce the number to only two opponents (such as ruling and opposition blocks), but filed separate nominations. Since then, parties and candidates have been investing in electrifying political demagoguery and campaigns, which catalytically impacted widespread instigation of parochialism and sectarianism among the masses. If this trend continues there is a potential danger to further fragment and create deep chasms in the society which might take long time to mend after the election and can impede the achieving our common objectives. 

We would like all the stakeholders to consider this election as a point of inflection for electoral and political reforms in Manipur which could be the beginning to drive the rise of Manipur as a peaceful and developed state in coming times.

Hence at this crucial historical juncture for Meitei and the eleventh hour for withdrawal of candidature, we the Meitei Alliance, reiterating our commitment to achieving Meitei’s unity for the present and future, would like to appeal:

PARTIES AND CANDIDATES TO:

* Show your stand for Meitei’s unity and causes above personal interests and party loyalty.

* Show your strategies for achieving constitutional protection of Meitei.

* Sacrifice your candidature to consolidate into a single voice of Meitei’s interest. 

We understand and respect the intent of the candidates however we appeal the candidates to sacrifice their candidature if it would be in the bigger vision and common interest of the people. Such sacrifices will be highly respected and indelibly etched in the collective memory of the people, both in Manipur as well as across the globe.

MEITEI VOTERS TO:

* Express faith in people’s democracy. 

* Avoid trusting fictitious promises.

* Avoid parties and candidates who offer money to buy votes. 

* Ask the parties and candidates how they plan to fulfil people’s primary concerns, namely 

• means of survival (air, water, food, fire/ energy, health, etc), 
• comforts of living (income, clothes, house, transport, recreation, etc.), 
• means of progress (land or territory, education, science, technology, culture, community co-existence, ecological harmony, etc.). 

GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR TO:

* Protect and promote democratic pluralism by upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

* Allow freedom of expression and ensure conducive conditions for fair and transparent elections. 

* Enforce zero-tolerance against any acts or attempts to manipulate voting and ballot (vote).

United we stand, divided we fall. 

The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

Convenor, Meitei Alliance