News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur Polls

  • 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.

  • JD(U) MPs to keep ‘vigil’ on counting of votes in Manipur

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP ally Janata Dal (United) said on Wednesday that its five MPs will camp in Imphal to keep “vigil” on the counting of votes for the Manipur assembly polls.

    “If the party gets any complaints from the JD(U) candidates about any foul play during counting, the Members of Parliament shall sit in dharna in front of respective counting centres,” party general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan, its in-charge for the North East region, said in a statement.

    Though the JD(U) is a BJP ally, it has fought the assembly polls in states like Manipur and Uttar Pradesh on its own after its senior partner turned down its offer of an alliance.

    A number of former BJP leaders, several of whom quit the party after not getting tickets for the polls, have fought on the JD(U) symbol.

    The party has accused the BJP of poaching its MLAs in some North East states in the past.

    The JD(U) has also written to the Election Commission to direct electoral officers to strictly ensure that complete videography is done in counting centres, counting of postal ballots are done before the counting of EVM votes and new round of counting be taken up only after the announcement of each round of counting.

    It has also sought that adequate security be provided to counting agents.

    Counting of votes for five state polls will take place on Thursday.

  • 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.

  • Polling begins for 22 seats in second phase of Manipur assembly elections

    By PTI

    IMPHAL: Polling for the second and last phase of assembly elections in Manipur began at 7 am on Saturday in 22 constituencies across six districts, an official said.

    A total of 8.38 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase in the districts of Thoubal, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Jiribam, he said.

    All arrangements are in place to hold voting in 1,247 polling stations adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajesh Agarwal had said on Friday.

    The electoral fate of 92 candidates will be decided on Saturday, including 12 from the BJP, followed by Congress (18), National People’s Party (11), Janata Dal (United) and Naga People’s Front (10 each).

    Polling will continue till 4 pm.

  • Stakes high for Congress in Manipur’s final round poll

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI:  Manipur will go to the final phase Assembly polls on Saturday against the backdrop of sporadic incidents of violence.  The poling will be held in 22 constituencies, 11 of them straddling across two valleys and as many in the tribal-majority hills. After the first-phase election on February 28, opposition parties had accused the ruling BJP of using militant groups in peace mode to threaten voters and capture polling booths. 

    The fear of the gun looms large also in the second phase, particularly in the hilly constituencies of Tengnoupal and Chandel. After the first-phase polls in the hill district of Churachandpur, the militants had brutally beaten up five persons for voting in favour of a certain political party. Photos of their bruised bodies had gone viral.

    In 2017, the Congress had won 12 of these 22 seats — eight in the Imphal Valley and four in the hills. The BJP had bagged three seats — two in the Imphal Valley and one in the hills. The Naga People’s Front (NPF) had won four — all of them in the hills. The National People’s Party (NPP) had won two, both in the hills, while an Independent emerged victorious in the Jiribam (valley) seat.

    The Congress is confident of its prospects in the second phase. However, the political situation in the state has changed drastically over the past five years that saw half of the Congress’ 28 MLAs jumping ship, most of them embracing the lotus. “Eleven of the 12 Congress MLAs, who had won from these seats in 2017, are still with us. We are confident we can win 16 of the 22 seats this time. People across constituencies are supporting us,” Congress spokesman K Debabrata claimed.

    He alleged the BJP had taken the help of some militant groups, which signed suspension of operation agreements with the government, to harass and intimidate Congress voters in the first phase elections. “The militants should be confined to their designated camps but they came out and openly supported the BJP,” Debabrata alleged.

    The Congress and the BJP are expected to win bulk of the 22 seats. The BJP’s base has improved tremendously in the Imphal Valley as well as the hills since 201. Another factor likely to favour the BJP is that the Northeast voters usually vote for that party which is in power at the Centre. The NPF, which was born in Nagaland, is considered a powerhouse in 10 Naga-majority seats in Manipur hills where it has fielded candidates. The NPP, which leads Meghalaya government, is expected to win some seats in the valley. 

  • 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.

  • Manipur polls: 27.34 per cent voting registered till 11 AM

    By ANI

    IMPHAL: A voter turnout of 27.34 per cent was recorded till 11 AM for the first phase of Manipur elections, the Election Commission of India informed on Monday.

    Kangpokpi district reported the highest voter turnout of 32.62 per cent followed by Imphal West with 31.60 per cent.

    Other districts, namely, Bishnupur reported a voter turnout of 29.66 per cent, Imphal East 26.66 per cent and Churachandpur 16.68 per cent.

    A total of 173 candidates, including 15 women, are in the fray for this phase of the polls.

    Voting started at 7 am at will continue till 4 pm. The voters who are COVID positive or are under quarantine will be allowed to vote at the last hour, between 3 pm to 4 pm.

    Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh is contesting from his traditional home seat, Heingang constituency of Imphal East. Notably, the Chief Minister is seeking a fifth term.

    The BJP formed the government in Manipur in 2017 with the support of the National People’s Party (NPP), Naga People’s Front (NPF), and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). However, this time the BJP has decided to go solo and is contesting all 60 seats.

    The second phase of this 60-member Assembly will take place on March 5. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

  • Assam CM Himanta credits PM Modi with solving bandh, blockade problem in Manipur

    By Express News Service

    IMPHAL: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with solving the perennial problem of bandhs and blockades in Manipur.

    Speaking at the “flag-hoisting” ceremony of senior Manipur Minister Thongam Biswajit, Sarma said the people of Manipur had suffered a lot prior to 2017 due to bandhs and blockades.

    “We had doubts if we would be able to solve the problem. But PM Modiji was confident. He said it is possible. Soon, it became a reality. Bandhs and blockades are now a thing of the past,” Sarma said. He said the previous Congress government could have solved the problem but it did not.

    “Modiji built a national highway that connects Manipur with Assam’s Silchar. Now, the state has two highways to bring goods to the state. Biswajit was the PWD minister. Under him, many roads and bridges have been built,” the Assam CM said.

    He said ahead of the 2017 Manipur polls, the BJP could not imagine it could form the government in the state but Biswajit could visualise it. “He came from the TMC to the BJP and contributed immensely to the party’s massive growth in Manipur. We all know this and we must acknowledge it,” Sarma said.

    He added, “When he was joining the BJP in 2016, I used to think why he is taking such a huge risk. He said the BJP has come to Assam. We will work hard together to bring BJP to power in Manipur. We all have today become the fans of Biswajit.”

    Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, Nagaland Minister and BJP chief Temjen Imna Along Longkumer were among a host of BJP leaders who were present at the programme.

    By hoisting party flags, candidates of elections in Manipur officially launch their election campaign.