IMPHAL: Somatai Shaiza is optimistic that people’s faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision would help him score his maiden goal in the political arena this Manipur election.
The 43-year-old former Churchill Brothers skipper, who also played for East Bengal and Mohun Bagan and represented India twice in Nehru Cup, is contesting the upcoming polls from Naga-majority Ukhrul on BJP’s ticket. Incidentally, Ukhrul is the birthplace of most top leaders of the Isak-Muivah faction of Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).
Shaiza had unsuccessfully contested the last election wearing Trinamool Congress colours. He said he had ditched the party, led by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as it had no future in Manipur. Ironically, Trinamool had won seven seats in the 2012 polls to spring a surprise.
“I believe in Modi’s vision. BJP is the only alternative to overthrow the Congress in Manipur,” he told Express.
The Nagas, who are Christians, have a large population in 12 of the 20 assembly segments in Manipur’s hills but Shaiza was confident that they would embrace BJP despite its alleged “Hindutva” agenda.
“The BJP will do very well in the hills. It will win not less than nine to 10 seats. Naga People’s Front (NPF) and others will get most of the remaining seats. Congress will suffer a setback,” he predicted. In the 2012 polls, the Congress grabbed eight seats while four others went to NPF in the hills. All the NPF MLAs, including Samuel Risom who won from Ukhrul, however, resigned last year protesting three bills, passed by the Manipur Assembly, viewing them as “anti-tribal”.
Shaiza is up against Risom, Alfred Kanngamarthur of Congress, Letsei Haokip of Trinamool Congress and Worthington Mahung of Lok Jan Shakti Party. Ukhrul is likely to see a straight contest between NPF and BJP. NPF, which is a major constituent of Nagaland’s ruling alliance, is trying hard to spread its wings in Manipur’s hills.
Shaiza may have hung up his boots in 2006 but he is inseparable from football. He has his football academy and club in Ukhrul.
“I have my own football academy and club. There are 85 boys in the academy and some 10 coaches. As I am busy with politics and campaign, they are running the academy,” he said.
Meanwhile, hit hard by the ongoing blockade, enforced by United Naga Council on two national highways, the candidates in Ukhrul and elsewhere are bringing fuel from neighbouring Nagaland for their movement and the movement of supporters during campaign. Petrol and diesel were being sold at `200 and `120 respectively a litre in black market.