Old rival, new ally challenge BJP in first phase of Manipur election
The Hindu
The 38 constituencies across three Imphal Valley and three hill districts are the most fertile for both the BJP and the Congress
The first phase of the Assembly election in Manipur on February 28 will see the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress vie for their most fertile seats across three Imphal Valley and three hill districts.
The BJP had won 18 and the Congress 16 of the 38 constituencies going to the polls in the first phase. Manipur has a total of 60 seats.
The BJP has been upbeat about retaining power but it faces more than just old rival Congress. Ally-turned-foe National People’s Party (NPP) headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has turned out to be a major challenger this time.
The bet is also on the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), an ally of the BJP in Bihar and at the Centre, to cause an upset or two.
Of the 38 seats, 29 are spread across Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur districts of Imphal Valley dominated by the primarily Hindu Meitei community. The other nine are in the hill districts of Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Pherzawl inhabited mostly by the Kuki-Zomi tribes.
The BJP has candidates in all the 38 seats while the Congress is contesting 35, the JD(U) 28 and the NPP 27. Among the smaller parties, the Shiv Sena is contesting seven, the Republican Party of India-Athawale and the Nationalist Congress Party six each, the Lok Janshakti Party three, the Kuki People’s Alliance and the Kuki National Assembly two each and the CPI one while 18 candidates are independent.
The NPP had named more candidates in this phase but a few were allegedly prevented from filing their papers or forced to withdraw their nominations by tribal militants they accused the BJP of using. The Congress, too, made similar allegations.