Q/ Many were surprised when you were chosen as chief minister five years ago. You had just joined the BJP after a long stint with the Congress.
A/ That is true. I did not expect that. In the late evening of March 8, 2017, I got a call from Amit Shah. He told me that the parliamentary board had chosen me as chief minister. I almost jumped in joy. That day I took an oath that I will not let them down. I worked 24x7 the past five years and you now are seeing the change. What the Congress could not do in 15 years, I have done in five.
Q/ But you were also a senior Congress minister for close to 15 years.
A/ Yes, but I had no voice. That is why I left.
Q/ Development has not reached every part of Manipur, especially the hills.
A/ Once I receive official reports about this—that there is a gap—I will try my best in the remaining three months [before the elections].
Q/ You have said that the Modi government has helped you in every way. Could you elaborate?
A/ First, take the case of the highways. The Centre gave me ₹4,000 crore to build highways (Imphal to Moreh and Imphal to Dimapur). For water, I received ₹3,400 crore. So, I was able to get potable water for the poor. Before I assumed power, Manipur had only 5 per cent tap water supply. Today, it is more than 60 per cent.
Q/ You seem to have handled the pandemic well. But, like in Bengal, cases could go up around election time.
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