Imphal, August 22: The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday observed the ninth death anniversary of Rishang Keishing, the state’s longest-serving chief minister and one of its most enduring political figures. The ceremony, held at Congress Bhavan in Imphal, drew senior party leaders, legislators, and rank-and-file members, who laid floral tributes before Keishing’s portrait in recognition of his decades of service to Manipur and the nation.
Among those in attendance were K. Meghachandra, president of the state Congress unit; Okram Ibobi Singh, the former chief minister and current leader of the Congress Legislature Party; and Gaikhangam, a member of the Congress Working Committee.
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Keishing, who died in 2017 at the age of 96, carved out a remarkable career in public life. He became the first parliamentarian from Manipur to enter the Lok Sabha, later serving two terms in the Rajya Sabha. Over the course of his career, he held the chief minister’s office for nearly two decades, making him the longest-serving leader in Manipur’s history.
Speaking at the commemoration, Mr. Ibobi described Keishing as a statesman whose influence extended far beyond the state’s borders. He recalled how Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, had persuaded Keishing to join the Congress Party, believing his leadership was essential for the Northeast.
“His dedication to preserving the integrity of the state cannot be forgotten,” Mr. Ibobi said. “Until his last breath, he reminded Congress workers that Manipur must remain united and that no compromise should ever be made on its territorial integrity.”
Turning to present-day politics, Mr. Ibobi criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign to build a “Congress-mukt Bharat,” or Congress-free India, insisting that the party’s survival rests with the people. “The people of Manipur have already shown their trust by electing Congress candidates in both the Inner and Outer Parliamentary seats,” he said. “It is not BJP campaigns but the will of the people that will decide the fate of the Congress.”
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Other leaders, including Mr. Gaikhangam, echoed those sentiments, remembering Keishing as a towering figure whose legacy continues to inspire the party’s vision for Manipur.