Th Brinda throws hat into electoral ring

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 17 : As anticipated within many in the State, MPS officer Thounaojam Brinda formally threw her hat into the electoral ring at Yaiskul Assembly Constituency today.
The police officer is expected to submit her resignation letter to the State Government soon.
Addressing a gathering organised by her supporters at her residence at Yaiskul Janmasthan, Thounaojam Brinda made the formally declaration that she will be contesting in the coming Assembly election from Yaiskul Assembly Constituency.
Prior to the formal announcement, Brinda along with her supporters tried to take out a motor cycle rally from Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak to Hicham Yaichampat at Yaiskul.
However Imphal East police swung into action and stopped the planned rally on the ground that it violates Covid protocol and the rally would pose a hindrance to the movement of VVIPs along the said route.
With the rally stopped, a public meeting was held at the residence of Brinda at Yaiskul Janmasthan where she announced her decision to stand for the Assembly election.
Addressing the gathering, Brinda said that as a police officer who is in the executive, she is keen to address the issues and challenges she has faced in the system.
She continued that she is keen to enter the legislature so that she would be in a position to address the issues more effectively. It is to help Manipur take a new direction that  I have decided to enter the electoral battle, she added.
Stating that the population of the indigenous people in Manipur is only about 19 lakhs, Brinda said that if corrective measures are not taken up now, then the possibility of the indigenous folks being overwhelmed cannot be written off at all.
Even as the incursion of non-locals into the State is an issue, there is every chance that they might enter electoral politics and even emerge victorious, said Brinda. Moreover Manipur will soon be connected by rail tracks, she added.
Talking on issues besieging the State, the intending candidate said that the youths are a disillusioned lot today. Many of them are unemployed and no efforts to provide them meaningful employment can be seen, she added.
It is to help address the different issues facing the State that I have decided to step into the electoral ring and see what contributions I can make to steer the State to a better position, added Brinda.
Fielding questions from the media, Brinda said that the plan was to stage a motor cycle rally along with her supporters, but that was stopped by the State Government. This was not entirely unexpected, she added.
While such rallies and gatherings are allowed at other Constituencies, why was I stopped from staging the rally, questioned Brinda. This was against democratic principles and amounted to  stifling the voice of the people, added the intending candidate.
To yet another query, Brinda said that many political parties have offered their tickets. The ultimate decision will however be taken in consultation with the people of Yaiskul.
My aim is to defeat money and muscle power and show to the people that one can emerge victorious without money power, said Brinda. The election should be free and fair and there should be informed consent, she added.