News Analysis India

Tag: Manipur

  • 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.

  • Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma rushes to Manipur to negotiate government formation with BJP

    By PTI

    SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his brother Power Minister James PK Sangma on Friday skipped the Assembly session here to rush to Manipur to negotiate with BJP in a bid to include the National People’s Party in the next government in that state.

    However, BJP which has won a simple majority in the Manipur assembly in elections, counting for which concluded Thursday and its state leaders including care-taker chief minister N Biren Singh have indicated they are not too keen to continue the alliance with NPP which is part of the NDA, in the state.

    The NPP has won 7 seats and is the second largest party in Manipur while the BJP has won 32 seats.

    The saffron party’s leaders have however indicated they favoured taking support from the Naga People’s Front which has 5 seats.

    “The Meghalaya Chief Minister is camping in Imphal along with NPP national spokesperson James PK Sangma. They are camping at the state capital with other party leaders,” a NPP leader told PTI, requesting anonymity.

    The NPP president is using his age-old connections with BJP top leadership both in the North East and in Delhi to try and mend the broken relationship his party shared with the BJP in Manipur, according to the NPP leader.

    The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance led by the NPP in also includes 2 BJP MLAs, one of whom is in the cabinet.

    However, the BJP has been unhappy with the MDA taking in Congress legislators into the Government and with NPP engaging the BJP in `friendly’ fights in the Manipur assembly elections.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Two ITBP personnel injured in Manipur IED blast

    By PTI

    IMPHAL/NEW DELHI: Two personnel of border guarding force ITBP were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in poll-bound Manipur on Sunday, officials said.

    The incident was reported around 8 pm in the Wangoo Tera area of Kakching district, about 45 kms from state capital Imphal. Constables Gaurav Rai and Girija Shankar have been injured in the blast, they said.

    An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) party along with a state police personnel were conducting an area domination patrol when the blast took place, they said.

    The troops were part of the ‘E’ company of the 610 ITBP election battalion deployed for poll duties in the state.

    The injured troops are stated to be out of danger and have been admitted to the Kakching civil hospital. Assembly elections in the northeastern state will be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

  • 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.