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GUWAHATI: The BJP on Monday deployed two of its big guns — defence minister Rajnath Singh and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — to retain Manipur where five allies in NDA — BJP, NPF, NPP, JD(U) and Republican Party of India (Athawale) — are fighting against each other.
Among the 38 of total 60 seats which will go to polls in the first phase on February 28, BJP will be clashing with the NPP in 27 seats, JD (U) in 28 seats and the Athawale faction in five seats. In addition, BJP is pitted against arch rival Congress in 35 of these seats. In the second phase polls to be held on March 5, BJP’s rival would be the NPF in 10 seats.
While JD(U) and Athawale’s group have been with BJP earlier, the partnership with the two northeast-based parties NPP (a national party) and NPF was stitched post-polls in 2017 to help BJP hoist its first government in Manipur. BJP then partnered NPP to form the government in Meghalaya. BJP had dumped NPF for NDPP to form the government in Nagaland in 2018 until 2021 when NPF returned to the NDA fold.
Singh campaigned at Singjamei, Langthabal and Thangmeiband assembly constituencies while Sarma campaigned at Khurai, all of which will go to polls in the first phase.
At Singjamei, BJP’s Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who is the speaker of the outgoing legislative assembly, is facing candidates of two allies—NPP’s Oinam Romen Singh and JD’s(U) Ngangbam Robert Singh — apart from fighting against Irengbam Hemochandra Singh from arch rival Congress.
At Langthabal, BJP’s Karam Shyam is caught in a three-cornered contest with Congress veteran Okram Joy Singh who jumped from BJP to Congress and Karam Nabakishor Singh of NPP. At Thangmeiband, BJP’s Jyotin Waikhom is pitted against JD’s (U) Khumukchan Joykisan Singh and also Hijam Nutanchandra Singh of Congress.
Singh spoke how both ‘face’ and ‘Fortune’ of the northeast are “changing rapidly” ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of India.
“In the last seventy years, how did the Congress government, which has been here for most of the time, neglect Manipur and other northeastern states? It reflects anti-development and anti-northeast mindset of Congress,” he said.
On the other hand, in the Khurai constituency where Sarma declared that Congress in the state will be reduced to five seats in the coming polls, his party candidate Leishangthem Susindro Meitei is pitted against candidates of three allies — Loitongbam Jayananda Singh of NPP, Toijam Lokendro Singh of JD(U) and Khagokpam Khamba Singh of Republican Party of India (Athawale).
Among the 38 of total 60 seats which will go to polls in the first phase on February 28, BJP will be clashing with the NPP in 27 seats, JD (U) in 28 seats and the Athawale faction in five seats. In addition, BJP is pitted against arch rival Congress in 35 of these seats. In the second phase polls to be held on March 5, BJP’s rival would be the NPF in 10 seats.
While JD(U) and Athawale’s group have been with BJP earlier, the partnership with the two northeast-based parties NPP (a national party) and NPF was stitched post-polls in 2017 to help BJP hoist its first government in Manipur. BJP then partnered NPP to form the government in Meghalaya. BJP had dumped NPF for NDPP to form the government in Nagaland in 2018 until 2021 when NPF returned to the NDA fold.
Singh campaigned at Singjamei, Langthabal and Thangmeiband assembly constituencies while Sarma campaigned at Khurai, all of which will go to polls in the first phase.
At Singjamei, BJP’s Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who is the speaker of the outgoing legislative assembly, is facing candidates of two allies—NPP’s Oinam Romen Singh and JD’s(U) Ngangbam Robert Singh — apart from fighting against Irengbam Hemochandra Singh from arch rival Congress.
At Langthabal, BJP’s Karam Shyam is caught in a three-cornered contest with Congress veteran Okram Joy Singh who jumped from BJP to Congress and Karam Nabakishor Singh of NPP. At Thangmeiband, BJP’s Jyotin Waikhom is pitted against JD’s (U) Khumukchan Joykisan Singh and also Hijam Nutanchandra Singh of Congress.
Singh spoke how both ‘face’ and ‘Fortune’ of the northeast are “changing rapidly” ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of India.
“In the last seventy years, how did the Congress government, which has been here for most of the time, neglect Manipur and other northeastern states? It reflects anti-development and anti-northeast mindset of Congress,” he said.
On the other hand, in the Khurai constituency where Sarma declared that Congress in the state will be reduced to five seats in the coming polls, his party candidate Leishangthem Susindro Meitei is pitted against candidates of three allies — Loitongbam Jayananda Singh of NPP, Toijam Lokendro Singh of JD(U) and Khagokpam Khamba Singh of Republican Party of India (Athawale).
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