News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur Polls 2022

  • 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 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: Constituency with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose link seeks better deal for him

    Express News Service

    MOIRANG: Ibomcha Singh of Moirang in Manipur’s Bishnupur district is happy and sad at the same time.

    He is filled with pride that it was at Moirang the Tricolour was unfurled for the first time on April 14, 1944 by the Indian National Army (INA). He is sad because he feels the country has not given the charismatic INA leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose his dues.

    After Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a hologram statue of the freedom fighter in Delhi, Ibomcha was hoping the BJP will commit more considering elections in Manipur and Moirang’s special place in the history of India’s freedom struggle.

    “Neither the BJP nor the Congress had anything on Netaji in their election manifestos. I am sad,” the middle-aged man said.

    Other locals such as Kunjabihari Singh, K Inaocha Singh, Rajen Singh, Babina Devi and Ningthoujam Denny praised the Modi government for installing the hologram statue. At the same time, however, they insisted the government do more to recognise Netaji’s contributions.

    ALSO READ | ‘Firal Chingkhatpa’: Unique Manipuri ritual helps candidates assess their support base before polls

    “I feel proud that my shop is next to the INA memorial. Netaji was a great leader who had sacrificed his life for all of us but the country has not given him his dues,” Kunjabihari lamented.

    Inaocha heard from his grandfather that the locals fed the INA soldiers when they had arrived at Moirang during the Battle of Imphal in World War II.

    “They had come on foot from Burma (Myanmar). The people of Moirang then had no idea if the soldiers were Indians, Japanese but they fed them well,” he said.

    Both Inaocha and Kunjabihari felt the people of India could give a fitting tribute to Netaji by celebrating his birthday at every place.

    For the tourists visiting Manipur, Moirang is a favoured destination.

    It was a dream visit to Moirang for Dr Vinod Kumar who came from Kerala. He too felt Netaji did not get his dues. “The present government is doing something but he deserves more respect,” Kumar said.

    “Mahatma Gandhiji had a disagreement on his (Netaji’s) approach to secure freedom but it was more practical at that time as the British were very strong. I don’t think we could have won the battle through a peaceful movement,” he added.

    Denny, who accompanied Kumar, said, “I get inspired by Netaji’s heroics every time I visit the memorial. We, the Manipuris, prefer Netaji to Gandhiji. Our traits are similar to that of Netaji. We should give more credit to Netaji than to Gandhiji.”

    ALSO READ | Manipur polls: Bouquets and brickbats for ruling BJP

    The INA Memorial-cum-Museum is managed by the Manipur government. It has a collection of letters, photographs, badges of ranks and other war memorabilia which remind visitors of the sacrifices made by the INA soldiers.

    Moirang, meanwhile, will go to polls in the first phase on February 28. The constituency braces for a straight fight between Sharatchandra Singh of the Congress and M Prithviraj Singh of the BJP.

    Sharatchandra, the sitting MLA, had defected to the Congress recently after being denied a ticket by the BJP.

  • 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.

  • Manipur polls: Congress promises 33% jobs to women, unemployment allowance

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Congress has promised 33% reservation in government jobs for women in Manipur where female voters outnumber their male counterparts.

    “Women are the pride of Manipur and the Congress considers women to be equal. It is constantly striving to bring them forward. The Congress promises to give 33% of all govt jobs in Manipur to women and provide free transportation to them,” party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a virtual rally on Tuesday.

    The Congress also proposed to give an unemployment allowance to all the youth of Manipur and the right to free healthcare to everyone.

    It promised to protect civil liberties and democratic rights of all sections of the Manipur society and respect the culture and tradition of each group, tribe, ethnicity and religion.

    “We intend to promote peace and harmony and do whatever we can to keep the people of Manipur united, so all can flourish together. One of our major goals is to provide safe drinking water and uninterrupted power supply. We also want to ensure that a farmer, who grows one crop, becomes capable to grow two-three crops in the next five years,” Priyanka said.

    ALSO READ | Manipur elections: Fate of BJP, Congress hinges on smaller parties as hung House predicted

    She also said that the Congress would protect the preamble of Constitution and secure the territorial integrity of Manipur and its historical boundaries. The Congress will protect your civil rights and freedom, she added.

    “Unless you have a politics that truly respects your state, culture and people from the heart, not just at the time of elections, only then can the development of Manipur take place,” the Congress leader said.

    The problems in Manipur are increasing because the government does not have the will to work. It depends on creating division on the basis of religion and ethnicity and dividing you is the only way that their politics progresses, she alleged.

    “BJP’s will is to come to power and remain in power by any means. It is impossible for a state to develop with such kind of politics. Manipur needs a government that understands the state and the voices of the people,” she added.

  • 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.

  • Manipur Polls 2022: Exodus of disgruntled BJP leaders continues

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Denied ticket, over a dozen BJP leaders in Manipur defected to Janata Dal (United) and other political parties.

    Prominent among them are sitting MLA Ksh Biren and former MLAs Samuel Jendai and Dr Kh Loken. Besides them, six others, who were denied tickets, joined the JD-U.

    Former Chief Secretary O Nabakishore and former Director-General of Police LM Khaute also joined the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-headed party.

    Earlier, former supercop Thounaojam Brinda, BJP leader Thangjam Arunkumar, sitting MLAs Kh Joykisan (Congress), Ashab Uddin (Independent), and former MLAs Dr E Dwijamani and Md Abdul Nasir had joined the party.

    The JD-U had plans to field 20 candidates but given the overwhelming support that is pouring in, it has decided to contest in 40 seats. Party’s state president Hangkhanpao Taithul said it would not forge any pre-poll alliance.

    The Bihar CM, Taithul said, has plans to visit Imphal in the next few days.

    Some disgruntled politicians also joined the Congress and BJP ally National People’s Party (NPP). Retired IAS officer P Saratchandra and former chairman of a state government PSU, N Joykumar joined the Congress.

    Five other BJP leaders, including Ningthoujam Mangi and S Sovachandra, joined the NPP which is planning to field 40 candidates. It had contested in nine seats in the last election and won four.

    The exodus from the BJP followed widespread protests over the denial of tickets to some sitting MLAs and leaders. After the names of the candidates were declared on Sunday, the supporters of some leaders had ransacked party offices and burnt party flags, posters, and effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, and other state leaders in some constituencies.

    The two-phase polls will be held on February 27 and March 3 in 60 constituencies, 19 of which are reserved for the Scheduled Tribe communities.