Manipur Election 2017: BJP seeks clarification from Okram Ibobi Singh on usage of 'referendum'

Imphal: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur, while taking strong exception of the term ‘referendum’ used by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, sought clarification from him as to what empowered him to use the term. [caption id=“attachment_3322930” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. AFP[/caption] BJP Manipur vice-president M Ashinikumar while interacting with the media at the BJP office on Thursday said that Manipur chief minister referring to the Manipur Legislative Assembly election as a referendum is unbecoming of an elected representative of the people and an exhibit of his ignorance. The term referendum has a wide ramification and meaning. “This election is a democratic election in which people vote for their choice of elected representatives. By the use of the term, Ibobi has clearly made a mockery of the mandate of the people and the constitution,” said the BJP leader. This chief minister is trying to wreck up a controversy out of desperation, Ashinikumar said while questioning Ibobi if he was going to amend the constitution by referendum or what law he was going to enact through it. He further said that referendum is a process of voting on a particular issue with the mandate of the constitution. Ibobi should clarify and submit to the people of Manipur what is a referendum and how he reduced the state Assembly election into his Congress party referendum and which authority mandated him to reduce the democratic state Assembly election into his referendum, he demanded. Ashinikumar said, this is the clear evidence of how the various legitimate issues and grievances of the people are ignored and used for his political mileage by ignoring the real issues that have plagued the people in his 15-year reign of terror. By his statement, he has exhibited how the election has been a mere pole to come back to power only and not for the desired change. The BJP leader also slammed deputy CM Gaikhangam for using over 1,000 Manipur police personnel in his constituency for poll code violation. These activities only proved the desperation of Ibobi and Gaikhangam to come back to power. Out of despair, they are restoring all unconstitutional means and acting above law of the land. It is time to book these criminals and show them who is above the rule of law. The mandate of the people will prevail this time and justice, accountability and good governance would be brought to the people of Manipur, he added. Ibobi, after casting his vote at the polling station of Athokpam Primary school on Wednesday,  told the reporters that the polls were a kind of referendum on the burning issues. “I do not want to give any premature comment now. We should wait for the results. But the people must have voted after taking all issues into consideration,” he said. Ibobi Singh said his party will get a clear majority, and that Irom Sharmila isn’t a factor this time. He blames BJP and PM for the blockade.