The Human Development Index has rated Manipur very low on infrastructure development. According to reports, there are many areas in the state that do not receive more than 4 to 5 hours of electricity every day. Drinking water, too, is a scarce in several areas. Further, corruption at local level has eaten into whatever development that could have taken place. There have been allegations of connivance between local militias and state bureaucracy, hampering the state’s growth and development.

However, the ruling Congress is hoping to derive benefit from the development projects that have been implemented in hill areas, which account for 20 of the 60 seats in the Assembly. Also, the Congress government of Okram Ibobi Singh has to the extent silenced its critics by carrying out development works in the rural areas, like constructing roads and bridges that are “visible”. Further, riding on the Anna Hazare bandwagon the Congress-led state government late last year managed to get the Manipur Lokayukta Bill 2011 passed, with an objective to check corruption and probe into allegations against public functionaries.