Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge appointed Ayangbam Oken Singh as Chairperson of the Manipur Congress SC Department. State leaders launch sharp criticism at the BJP government over failures, urging unity and peace amid Manipur’s deepening political and social crisis.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has approved the appointment of Ayangbam Oken Singh as the new Chairperson of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee’s Scheduled Caste (SC) Department with immediate effect. The announcement was made on Friday through a formal statement issued by AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, marking a key organisational reshuffle aimed at strengthening the party’s outreach among Scheduled Caste communities in the state.
According to party sources in Imphal, Ayangbam Oken Singh, aged 54, is a social worker turned politician who has played an active role in community welfare and local development initiatives for several years. Before joining the Congress, he was associated with the National People’s Party (NPP) and contested from the Sekmai (SC) constituency during the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections as an NPP candidate. However, he was defeated by BJP’s Heikham Dingo Singh. His shift to the Congress, sources say, reflects his alignment with the party’s ideology of inclusivity, social justice, and unity amid Manipur’s turbulent political climate.
Congress Leadership Targets BJP Over Governance Failures
While welcoming the new appointment, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Keisham Meghachandra Singh took the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the BJP-led state government, accusing it of arrogance, divisive politics, and administrative collapse. In a strongly worded statement, Meghachandra Singh said, “When a government loses touch with truth and the people’s voice, its end is certain. The BJP’s arrogance, injustice, and divisive politics are leading them to their own downfall.”
He added that the people of Manipur are witnessing “Vinash Kale Vipreet Buddhi”—a Hindi phrase meaning when destiny approaches, people tend to act foolishly. The Congress leader said that communities once bound by harmony now live under fear and mistrust, while the government remains indifferent to the people’s suffering.
A Cry for Peace and Reconciliation
Highlighting the humanitarian crisis that continues to plague Manipur, Meghachandra Singh condemned the state government’s handling of the situation. “The cries of mothers, the suffering of youth, and the silence of those in power reveal a tragic collapse of governance and humanity,” he said. The Congress MLA called for unity among all communities, stressing that it was time for the voices of the people to rise above “the politics of hatred.”
He reaffirmed the Congress party’s commitment to healing and reconciliation, saying, “The Congress party stands firmly with the people of Manipur — to heal the wounds, to unite hearts, and to rebuild a peaceful and dignified future for all.”
Infrastructure Woes Add to the People’s Pain
Turning his attention to the state’s deteriorating infrastructure, the MPCC chief criticized the so-called “double-engine government” of the BJP, claiming that it had failed miserably in constructing and maintaining Manipur’s roads and highways — the lifelines of the state. “The condition of national highways in the state is horrible, with no signs of repair, maintenance, or improvement,” he said, adding that the suffering of travellers and transporters is “unprecedented in the history of Manipur.”
A Leadership Focused on Inclusion
Political observers see Ayangbam Oken Singh’s appointment as part of the Congress party’s broader strategy to revitalize its base among marginalized and Scheduled Caste groups, which play a crucial role in several constituencies across Manipur. His grassroots experience as a social worker and his past association with multiple parties give him a unique understanding of both governance challenges and the socio-political pulse of the people.
Party insiders believe Singh’s leadership could inject new energy into the Congress SC Department, enabling it to connect with communities that have long felt neglected by the current administration. The Congress hopes his appointment will help rebuild confidence and inclusivity in regions affected by violence and displacement.
| Also Read: Assam Cabinet approves landmark Industrial and Land Rights Reforms |
As the Congress reorganizes its leadership, the party’s renewed focus on social justice, peacebuilding, and accountability may set the tone for the state’s political discourse ahead of the next Assembly elections. With the appointment of Ayangbam Oken Singh, the Congress is sending a strong message of solidarity and reform to the people of Manipur — a state yearning for stability, equality, and unity after years of unrest.
