News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur elections

  • N Biren Singh to continue as Chief Minister of Manipur

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: N Biren Singh will continue as the chief minister of Manipur. With this, the week-long suspense on who will occupy the hot seat ended. Singh’s name as the CM was announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after a closed-door meeting with all BJP MLAs of the state.Sitharaman and Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju were sent to the state as the BJP’s central observer and co-observer respectively.Sitahraman told journalists that it was a unanimous decision. She hoped the decision would go a long way in Manipur’s stability and good governance. She was also optimistic that there would be a very good government.Singh and senior leader Thongam Biswajit were the frontrunners for the post. The duo arrived in the state earlier in the day from Delhi along with the two observers and others.Their names were doing the rounds for the past one week. They visited Delhi twice on being summoned by the party’s central leadership and held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and party stalwart BL Santhosh.The BJP had a stunning performance under Singh, winning 32 of the 60 seats in the Assembly elections, the results of which were declared on March 10.

  • Out of 60, 48 members of Manipur Assembly crorepatis, 25 have criminal cases

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: Of the 60 members of the new Manipur Assembly, as many as 48 are crorepatis with average assets of winning candidates amounting to Rs 3.75 crore, while 23 per cent of them have criminal cases and 18 per cent have serious criminal cases registered against them.

    This was revealed by the Manipur Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) that analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 60 winning candidates in the Manipur Assembly elections, results of which were declared on March 10.

    The BJP won 32 seats, National People’s Party (NPP) won seven, Janta Dal (United) six, Congress five, Naga People’s Front five, Independents three while Kuki People’s Alliance won two seats.

    Criminal cases

    Out of the 60 winning candidates analysed in 2022, 14 (23 per cent) have declared criminal cases against themselves. In 2017, two (3 per cent) MLAs had declared criminal cases against them.

    A total of 11 (18 per cent) winning candidates have declared serious criminal cases against them. In 2017, two (3 per cent) MLAs had declared serious criminal cases against them.

    Party-wise, seven (22 per cent) out of the 32 winning candidates from the BJP, four (80 per cent) out of five from Congress, one (14 per cent) out of seven from NPP, one (17 per cent) out of six from JD(U) and one (33 per cent) out of three Independents have declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits, the ADR analysis showed.

    Five (16 per cent) out of 32 winning candidates from BJP, four (80 per cent) out of five from Congress, one (14 per cent) out of seven from NPP and one (17 per cent) out of six from JD(U) have declared serious criminal cases against them in their affidavits.

    Crorepati candidates

    Out of the 60 winning candidates analysed, 48 (80 per cent) are crorepatis, as compared to 32 (53 per cent) in 2017.

    Party-wise, 25 (78 per cent) out of 32 from BJP, six (86 per cent) out of seven from NPP, all five (100 per cent) from Congress, five (83 per cent) out of six from JD(U), five (100 per cent) out of five from NPF and two (67 per cent) out of three Independents have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.

    The average of assets per winning candidate is Rs 3.75 crore, compared to Rs 2.16 crore in 2017.

    The average assets per winning candidates for BJP is Rs 2.91 crore, Rs 3.45 crore for NPP, Rs 2.80 crore for JD(U), Rs 6.20 crore for NPF, Rs 4.38 crore for Congress, Rs 64.29 lakh for Kuki Peoples Alliance, and Rs 12.22 crore for three Independent candidates, the ADR analysis said.

  • Assembly polls 2022: BJP ahead in Manipur, early trends show

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: The BJP was leading in 23 seats and the Congress in 12 constituencies in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Manipur.

    Counting of votes for 60 assembly seats in Manipur began at 8 am on Thursday under tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, officials said.

    According to early trends available from all the 60 constituencies, the BJP was ahead in 23 seats, the Congress in 12 and the NPP in 11.

    As per the official figure of the Election Commission, the BJP was ahead in 16 seats, the National People’s Party in six, the Congress in five and the JD(U) in three constituencies.

    The newly formed Kuki People’s Alliance and an Independent candidate led in one constituency each.

    Chief Minister N Biren Singh led with a huge margin of 8,574 votes against his nearest Congress rival in the Heingang constituency, while former CM and CLP leader O Ibobi Singh was ahead by a margin of 472 votes against BJP’s L Basanta.

    Congress president N Loken Singh trailed by 4,426 votes against BJP candidate Th Basanta, the EC data showed.

  • Despite fractured predictions of exit polls, BJP, Congress confident of forming government in Manipur

    By IANS

    IMPHAL: Despite fractured predictions by most of the exit polls on Monday, the two dominant political parties in Manipur – the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress – are confident of forming the government in the northeastern state after the declaration of Assembly election results on March 10.

    Manipur witnessed a hung Assembly in the previous polls in 2017, and this time too most of the exit polls’ predictions indicate another hung house.

    Claiming that his party is confident to form the government in Manipur, state Congress spokesman K.H. Debabrata said that the ruling BJP has used militants and other unethical methods to retain power, but the people of the state have given their verdict against the ruling party.

    “The BJP government and its leaders turned Manipur into ‘Moneypur’. During the elections, the BJP leaders utilised underground militants, goons and muscle power. The BJP government at the Centre and in the state gave Rs 16 crore to the militants just before the polls to influence the voters,” the Congress leader told IANS.

    Union Minister and BJP’s Manipur election in-charge Pratima Bhowmik said there is no doubt that the BJP is coming to power in Manipur for a second term with absolute majority.

    “People of Manipur have become fed up with the Congress. Their mis-governance for many years encouraged the militant outfits to grow. Blockades and bandhs (shut down) were regular affairs during the Congress regime. Hence, the people of the state this time rejected the party whole-heartedly,” Bhowmik said.

    Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had earlier told IANS that the BJP would get at least 40 seats in the 60-member house.

    Another Manipur in-charge of the BJP and the party’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, tweeted: “The BJP is set to come back with a firm majority in the states we were in the govt – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur. Our focus area was majorly empowerment – of women, youth, poor and needy and farmers among other sectors.”

    The leaders of the National People’s Party (NPP), BJP’s estranged ally, and Janata Dal (United), are also claiming that they would play a vital role in government formation. The two parties fielded 38 candidates each this time.

    NPP general secretary for Manipur, Sheikh Noorul Hassan, said that in the previous Assembly elections, the party had secured four seats, but this time it will bag more than 20 seats to become a formidable political force in Manipur.

    The BJP had secured 21 seats in the 60-member Assembly in the last polls in 2017 and wrested power for the first time after stitching together a coalition government with the support of four NPP MLAs, four Naga People’s Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member.

    However, this time the BJP, NPP and NPF are contesting separately and have fielded candidates against each other.

    Congress, which governed the state for 15 consecutive years (2002-2017) and emerged as the single largest party by securing 28 seats in 2017, this time formed a Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) after forging a pre-poll alliance with four Left parties and Janata Dal-Secular.

    Political observers said the outcome of the Assembly elections would have important ramifications for Meghalaya and Nagaland, the two northeastern states which along with Tripura would go to the polls early next year.

  • Violence mars first phase of Manipur polls

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI:  Sporadic incidents of violence were reported during the first phase of Manipur elections on Monday. According to election officials, 78.03% polling was recorded till 5 pm. The final polling percentage will be available after the return of polling parties, the officials added.

    A police havildar, Naorem Ibochouba Singh from Kakching district, died in suspected accidental firing from his service rifle. He was deputed for duty at a polling station in Tipaimukh constituency. Later, the body was flown to the state capital, Imphal, by a helicopter and kept at the morgue. 

    In a statement, the Election Commission (EC) said voting at 1,721 polling stations of 38 constituencies in five districts was held peacefully barring a few incidents of violence. The miscreants damaged EVMs at seven polling stations in Saikul, Saitu, Thanlon, Henglep and Singhat seats. 

    First information reports   were registered in connection with the cases. Security personnel had to fire blank shots to restore normalcy in areas falling under Saitu, Henglep and Singhat constituencies. The EC said it had received complaints from some political parties and candidates regarding violation of rules.

    However, a majority of the issues were resolved and prompt actions taken. “The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in presence of General Observers on March, 1, 2022. Decisions on re-polls, if any, shall be decided accordingly,” the Commission said. It was learnt the supporters of two political parties clashed in some constituencies, including in the hill district of Churachandpur where one person was injured. Incidents of violence were also reported from Imphal East, Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts.

    Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N Biren Singh had cast their votes soon after polling started.Singh, who contested from his pet Heingang seat, was confident the BJP would bag more than 30 seats in the first phase of elections.

  • Violence mars first phase Manipur polls, havildar dies in ‘accidental firing’

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Sporadic incidents of violence were reported during the first phase of the Manipur elections on Monday.

    According to election officials, 78.03% polling was recorded till 5 pm. The final polling percentage will be available after the return of polling parties, the officials added.

    A police havildar, Naorem Ibochouba Singh from Kakching district, died in suspected accidental firing from his service rifle. He was detailed for poll duty at a polling station in the Tipaimukh constituency. Later, the body was flown to the state capital of Imphal by helicopter and kept at the morgue of a hospital.

    In a statement, the Election Commission (EC) said voting at 1,721 polling stations of 38 constituencies in five districts was held peacefully barring a few incidents of violence. The miscreants damaged EVMs at seven polling stations under Saikul, Saitu, Thanlon, Henglep and Singhat seats. FIRs were registered in connection with the cases.

    The security personnel had to fire blank shots to restore normalcy in areas falling under Saitu, Henglep and Singhat constituencies.

    The EC said it had received complaints from some political parties and candidates during polling. However, majority of the issues were resolved and prompt actions taken.

    ALSO READ | BJP faces multi-cornered contest in phase one of Manipur polls

    “The scrutiny of Form 17 A and other documents will be conducted by the Returning Officers in presence of General Observers on 1st March, 2022. Decisions on re-polls, if any, shall be decided accordingly,” the Commission said.

    It was learnt the supporters of two political parties clashed in some constituencies, including in the hill district of Churachandpur where one person was injured. Incidents of violence were also reported from Imphal East, Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts.

    Governor La Ganesan and Chief Minister N Biren Singh had cast their votes soon after polling started.

    Singh, who contested from his pet Heingang seat, was confident the BJP would bag more than 30 seats in the first phase of elections.

    Apart from the CM, the other prominent candidates were Deputy CM Yumnam Joykumar Singh (National People’s Party), Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh (both from BJP), Congress president N Loken Singh, former Congress chief Konthoujam Govindas (BJP) and former minister Nemcha Kipgen (BJP).

    Altogether 12,09,439 voters, including 6,28,657 females and 175 transgenders, were eligible to cast votes. A total of 173 candidates, including 15 women, were in the fray.

    In the 2017 polls, the BJP and the Congress had won 18 and 16 of these seats respectively. The National People’s Party bagged two, Lok Janshakti Party and Trinamool Congress one each.

    The second and final phase polls will be held on March 5 in 22 seats.

  • Smriti Irani to Manipuris: When Rahul can refuse to lead Congress, how will he lead you?

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday asked the people of Manipur to not rely on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stating when he could refuse to lead his own party, how he would lead them.

    She said it is a quality of a leader that he would not go away from his people during difficult times.

    “But Rahul Gandhi tendered his resignation letter saying he cannot lead the Congress. If he is not keen on leading his party and does not have faith in it, how can you repose your trust in him and the Congress?” Irani asked addressing people at a rally at Lamsang.

    Defeat and victory are the two sides of a coin in an election but Rahul Gandhi has proven he distances himself from his people during difficult times, Irani said.

    ALSO READ | Manipur polls: BJP pledges scooty for meritorious college girls, laptops for class 12 pass students

    “How can he lead you when he could not be a leader of his own people?” the BJP leader asked.

    She expressed plaudits to the Narendra Modi government for protecting women by building toilets. She said research reports revealed that 40% of the cases of rape of women prior to 2014 were related to open defecation.

    “The reports also revealed that open defecation was among reasons behind diseases among women. The Congress knew about this challenge of women but did nothing,” Irani said.

    She said it was the BJP government at the Centre that built 10 crore toilets in the country, including 1.5 lakh of them in Manipur.

    She praised Chief Minister N Biren Singh for his peaceful approach to resolving conflicts.

    “That you have a chief minister who believes in a peaceful resolution of conflicts and challenges is the pride of the BJP,” Irani said.

    Taking part at another rally at Wangkhei, she joined a group of artists performing a traditional dance. The two-phase polls will be held on February 28 and March 5.

  • Seeking re-election for fifth consecutive term, Manipur CM N Biren Singh files nomination

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh filed his nomination papers on Saturday.

    He is seeking re-election for the fifth consecutive term from his Heingang Assembly constituency in Imphal East district.

    “It gives me immense pleasure to file the nomination as the BJP candidate from Heingang AC at the Office of Returning Officer today. I was joined by Smt. @AShardaDevi Ji, Pres. @BJP4Manipur,” Singh tweeted.

    He wished good luck to all BJP candidates filing nominations for the two-phase polls scheduled for February 27 and March 3.

    Singh was elected to the Assembly for three straight terms from 2002 on a Congress ticket. Prior to the 2017 polls, he had defected to the BJP and went on to become the CM.

    In that election, the BJP had won 21 seats as against the Congress’ 28 but managed to cobble up the numbers to form a coalition government.

  • Manipur Polls 2022: Congress releases 2nd list of 10 candidates

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: The Congress on Tuesday released its second list of 10 candidates for the upcoming Manipur assembly election.

    Former minister Ningthoujam Biren Singh and legislator Pukhrem Sharatchandra Singh are among the nominees featured in the second list.

    The party had on January 22 released the first list of 40 candidates with former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh contesting from Thoubal assembly seat.

    Election to the 60-member Manipur assembly will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3. The result will be declared on March 10.

  • EC to hold virtual meet with Manipur administration, political parties on Wednesday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission will hold a virtual meeting with top officials and representatives of political parties from Manipur on Wednesday, sources said.

    Manipur is one of the five states where assembly elections are due and the virtual meet is part of the poll panel’s exercise to take stock of the situation.

    The commission has already visited Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand in the last few days to take stock of the poll preparedness there.

    Top state administration officials, representatives of political parties and those part of the poll machinery will attend separate meetings on Wednesday evening, sources said.

    On Tuesday, the commission also took stock of the evolving Covid situation in the five states amid concerns over rising infections caused by the Omicron variant, they said.

    During a meeting with Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on December 27, the Election Commission noted that the percentage of those administered the first dose of Covid vaccine was still less in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur, while it was nearing 100 per cent in Uttarakhand and Goa.

    While the tenure of the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly ends in May, the terms of the legislative assemblies of Goa, Manipur and Punjab end on different dates in March.

    The poll panel is likely to announce the election dates for the five states in the first half of this month.

    It has asked the five states to step up the Covid inoculation drive and ensure that the personnel to be deployed on election duty are “double vaccinated”.

    In a recent letter to the chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab, the Election Commission has also reminded the five states that polling personnel come under the category of frontline workers and are eligible for the “precaution dose” of the Covid vaccines.

    The commission has said the polling personnel to be deployed in these states should be fully vaccinated and those eligible for the second dose of the vaccines should be administered the jabs on a priority basis, the sources said citing the letter.

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