E-Paper
BJP returns to power in Manipur for a 2nd term; Congress gets decimated
According to the election commission of India, the BJP won 32 seats—11 more than its 2017 figures while the Congress could manage only five seats, 23 fewer than what it got in the previous elections
GUWAHATI/IMPHAL: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday retained power in Manipur for a second consecutive term while the opposition Congress failed to reach even double digit in the 60-member legislative assembly.
According to the election commission of India, the BJP won 32 seats—11 more than its 2017 figures while the Congress could manage only five seats, 23 fewer than what it got in the previous elections.
The BJP increased its vote share to 37.8%, a jump from 36.3%% in 2017, the Congress could manage only 16.8%, a steep decline from 35.1%% it received five years ago. The Janata Dal (United), which contested from 38 constituencies, won six seats.
“We were very confident from the beginning that we will get the majority and form government on our own. I would like to thank the people of Manipur, my constituency and senior BJP leaders for their guidance,” chief minister N Biren Singh said in Imphal.
Singh, who secured an easy win from his home seat of Heingang by defeating Congress’s P Saratchandra by a margin of 18,271 votes, is expected to retain the top post.
A total of 15 sitting legislators lost the elections, held in two phases on February 28 and March 5, while 12 new faces emerged victorious.
In 2017, despite coming second behind the Congress, the BJP was able to form its first government in the northeastern state with the support from the National People’s Party (NPP), the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
On Thursday, the NPP won seven seats while the NPF managed five.
Singh also hinted at the composition of the next BJP-led government in the state.
“I don’t think NPP will be with us, but NPF will be part of the coalition,” Singh said, adding that the BJP’s good show was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas’ slogan.
NPF, which improved its tally by a seat from 2017, also expressed support to the BJP and said it will be part of the next government. The party had contested from 10 seats this time.
“We were expecting not less than eight seats, but are happy with the outcome. We are extending support to the BJP and will be part of the next government. Details about portfolio allocation and other such things will be discussed later,” Awangbow Newmai, NPF-Manipur president said.
This time around, the government could have a new constituent in the JD(U), the biggest surprise of this election. The party had last won a seat in Manipur in 2000. The JD(U) is part of the BJP-led NDA government at Centre and both parties are ruling the coalition government in Bihar.
“We are very happy with the results and thank people of Manipur for their love. We were nobody in the state and had not put up any candidate in 2017. There’s no talk yet on extending support to BJP, but we are open to joining the government,” said JD(U) national general secretary Afaque Ahmed Khan.
However, another former BJP ally, the NPP, which was part of the previous BJP-led government, will not be part of the new government. The party, which had won four seats in 2017, improved its tally by three seats this time. Senior party leader Y Joykumar, who was deputy chief minister in the outgoing government, however, lost from the Uripok seat.
The Congress, which suffered the biggest loss in this election, saw its state unit chief N Loken and former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam lose from the Nambol and Nungba seats, respectively.
“We are very sad and never expected such a death blow. However, we honour the verdict of the people and will be a responsible Opposition. The party will introspect, rectify, reorganise and come back stronger soon,” said Congress state unit vice-president Kh Debabrata Singh.
Newly formed Kuki Peoples’ Alliance (KPA), which contested from two seats — Saikul and Singhat — won both of them. Independent candidates bagged three seats and prominent among them is the owner of The Sangai Express, a local daily, Nishikant Sapam, who won from the Keisamthong seat.
A total of five women candidates won the polls in Manipur. Among them are BJP’s Nemcha Kipgen, who retained her Kangpokpi seat, and KPA’s Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, who won from the Saikul seat. Super cop Th Brinda, who contested from Yaiskul on a JD(U) ticket, however, came third on her electoral debut.
Experts said the results were in line with the usual trend of smaller states voting for the party in power at the Centre.
“BJP benefitted from poll-related violence and diktats issued by some insurgent groups to voters to vote for the saffron party. In small states like Manipur, which are dependent on central funds, voters usually tend to vote for the party in power in New Delhi,” said MC Arun Kumar, professor of anthropology in Manipur University and a political analyst.
Congress’s rout was due to organisational setbacks, he said.
“The party’s state unit chief defected to the BJP just months ahead of polls and a sitting MLA joined the JD(U). The party also suffered because several insurgent groups were opposed to it. This created fear among the voters and affected Congress’s campaign as well,” he added.
