ELECTIONS '98 COMMENTARY
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Congress wins boost its chances in Manipur

The landslide victory of the Congress in the just-concluded assembly polls is poised to give the party a shot in the arm in Manipur, where it is currently in the opposition.

Former Manipur chief minister and veteran Congress leader Rishang Keishing today predicted political re-alignments in the state following the performance of the Congress in assembly elections to the four states.

Most MLAs of the ruling Manipur State Congress, the break-away Congress group, had by now realised that they would not be able to retain their seats in the next assembly election slated after a year, Keishing said.

Some ruling party members were in touch with him to work out a way to return to the Congress fold, he said.

Keishing hinted that the Congress might come back to power in Manipur even during the present term of the assembly if the party musters the support of a majority of MLAs. Talks were on in that direction, he said.

When asked about the poor performance of the Congress in Mizoram, he dismissed it as a result of the anti-incumbency wave that swept the state following the long innings by outgoing chief minister Lalthanhawla at the helm of affairs.

UNI

Assembly Election '98

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