Rishang not to contest again, RB ?credits? BJP for Cong upsurge

Imphal, March 08: Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing who lost his Phungyar Assembly seat in the 8th State Assembly election has finally decided to retire from electoral politics. However, the longest serving Chief Minister of the State is still keen to be around for a while in the State political arena. During an interview a few days back, Rishang told The Sangai Express that he will never contest election again. "My candidature in the 8th Assembly election was my last one. I will never contest in any election again", said the leader who is at the helm of affairs in the Congress led Secular Democratic Front Government installed yesterday. Rishang also denied projecting himself for the Rajya Sabha MP's post but did not rule out taking up the responsibility if his party nominates him. When asked how he felt after tasting defeated in election for the first time, he said he does not take it as a defeat. He said he would have got more than half of the total votes if underground elements had not captured booths. NSCN-IM was all out against me in collusion with KNA and more than 1600 votes were captured by them he charged. Rishang alleged FPM candidate Somi Keishing provided vehicles to NSCN-IM cadres. "I don't know what prompted the NSCN-IM to participate in Indian elections by deviating from their stance just because they disliked me. It was a terrible mistake on their part as they have compromised their main goal, ie, Naga sovereignty", he said. On his future plans, he said he has a lot to do. But first of all, he will concentrate on the Rishang Keishing Foundation where an intensive cultivation of fruits, coffee and other horticultural deployments are aimed at; he said adding that the foundation is also trying to check jhumming. Striking a mellow note, Rishang said God always opens new ways for him. He is expecting the same this time too. On the other hand, former Chief Minister and Samata Party leader Radhabinod Koijam ostracized the BJP charging it with toppling his Ministry paving the way for the Congress victory. Radhabinod who said he did not regret leaving the Congress maintained that his party got a severe beating as the BJP has not been able to handle the affairs of the Nation and many issues have not been addressed by the BJP led NDA Government. Congress party is coming up due to the inefficiency of the BJP Govt at the Centre. The Congress led SPF Ministry is in fact a gift of the BJP, he said adding that Samata's image has been tarnished because it is with the BJP at the Centre. Terming his party's alliance with BJP as unfortunate, he regretted that it was the BJP which had toppled his Government. The Samata leader who led the People's Front Government before PR was imposed said he has no disappointment in his defeat in the recent election. "Defeat in election is part of politics. I only hope for a stable Government in Manipur which can realize people's aspirations. Now we have to wait and watch whether the SPF Govt turns out to be a stable one and whether it can serve the people", he said. When reminded of his claim that Samata will win 15 seats while it actually won only three, the former Chief Minister said he accepts the people's verdict. "They did not vote for us because they have chosen others and we have to see whether the people made the right choice or not," he added. On his defeat in Thangmeiband AC, he claimed that all the other 8 candidates ganged up against him. They had sold their supporters to the BJP candidate M Bhorot which ultimately led to his defeat. It is to be seen whether Bhorot can serve the electorates of Thangmeiband in particular and the State in general. If he performs well Thangmeiband will prosper and subsequently he will come up, he said and added that he will support Bhorot if he serves the people well.