Imphal May 17 : The inclusion in the UPA's Common Minimum Programme that the Centre would protect territorial integrity of Manipur helped Congress win both the parliamentary seats in the state, political observers said here today.
The assurance given by AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi during election campaign in interior Churachandpur hill district that the Congress, if voted to power, would work for protection of territorial integrity also changed the minds of thousands of electorates who cast votes in favour of the party, they said.
This could be judged from the fact that Congress candidate in Outer Manipur parliamentary Constituency, Thangso Baite, defeated his nearest rival Mani Cheranamei by over 1.19 lakh votes.
While Baite secured 3,44,517 votes, Cheranamei of People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) got 2,24,719 votes.
Outgoing MP and Naga leader, Cheranamei, had campaigned for disintegration of Manipur and formation of smaller states along ethnic lines by merging Naga inhabited hill areas with neighbouring Nagaland.
He had presented disintegration as the only solution to the Naga problem.
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