Convincing win for the BJP unlike 2017

Yambem Laba *

Polling for Second phase of 12th Manipur Assembly Election on March 05 2022 :: Pix - Lamdamba Oinam

The results for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly are out. And unlike the one in 2017 which delivered a fractured mandate, this time the Bharatiya Janata Party has returned with 32 seats in the House of 60 and secured an absolute majority.

The Congress Party, with 28 seats in 2017, has got only five and six of its 12 sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly have also lost. Newcomers Janata Dal (United) and Kuki People’s Alliance have made their presence felt while the National People’s Party and Naga People’s Front increased their respective tallies from the last outing. The headcount reads, BJP-32, Congress Party-five, NPP-seven, JDU-six, NPF-five, Independents-three and KPA-two.

The main victors include incumbent Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh and Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Biren Singh’s son-in-law RK Imo Singh won from Sagolband on a BJP ticket while Ibobi Singh’s son Okram Surjakumar won on a Congress Party ticket from Khangabok.

On the other hand, Govindas Konthoujam has been re-elected from the Bishnupur constituency for a record seventh straight win, albeit this time on a BJP ticket. The saffron party’s “strongman” Thongam Biswajit Singh won from Thongju Constituency. Also making a comeback is former speaker Thokchom Lokeshwar Singh of the Congress Party from Khundrakpam Constituency.

This election has marked a first of sorts with five women legislators - SS Olish (BJP) from Chandel, Sagolshem Kebi Devi (BJP) from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, Irengbam Nalini Devi (NPP) from Oinam, Nemcha Kipgen (BJP) from Kangpokpi, and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (KPA) from Saikul.

Among the new faces are former Director General of Police LM Khaute from Churachandpur on a JDU ticket; Khwairakpam Raghumani, former Commissioner in the State Government on a BJP ticket from the urban Uripok Constituency, and retired civil servant Ram Muivah, former Secretary of the North Eastern Council on an NPF ticket from Ukhrul. Former Indian Police Service officer Thounaojam Basanta Singh (BJP) has won from Nambol.

Three Independent candidates also made the mark-media magnate Sapam Nishikanta Singh from Keishamthong, J Kumo Sha from Karong and former Minister and environmentalist Haokholet Kipgen from Saitu.

Among the major leaders to have lost are NPP National vice-president Yumnam Joykumar Singh from Uripok where BJP’s Raghumani Singh won; Gaikhangam Gangmei, current member of the Congress Working Committee and former Deputy Chief Minister was beaten in Nungba by debutant and former Indian Administrative Service officer Dinganglung Gangmei of the BJP, and Manipur’s Congress Party chief N Loken Singh couldn’t come to power from Nambol.

Former Minister and Speaker TN Haokip lost from Saikot, a Constituency that he had represented for six continuous terms. AK Mirabai of the Congress Party also lost to the BJP in Patsoi.

Crying foul over the manner in which six of his sitting MLAs lost, Ibobi Singh said that “the result of the election is the verdict of the public and should be respected as such, but at the same time, the public should remember the many reports of pre-poll violence and disruption of free and fair polling”.

The role of Kuki militant groups, currently under a Suspension of Operations agreement with the Centre and State Government, has been a source of suspicion during this election. They were allegedly utilised for intimidating candidates and political workers.

The Manipur Government had also released a total of Rs 16 crore to the Kuki militants in February and March this year as stipend for SoO groups. The issue was raised by the Congress Party as a violation of the model code of conduct, but the Chief Election Officer thought otherwise. A fuming Jairam Ramesh, the Congress Party’s observer for Manipur, was last heard moving the Supreme Court over the State Government’s decision.

That apart, it has also been the most volatile polls held in Manipur as gunfire was a common sound and goons roamed freely intimidating households. Altogether, six people were shot dead in the run-up and one candidate was also shot at but luckily survived. Former super cop and youth icon, Thounaojam Brinda, who contested from Yaiskul against the BJP’s Thokchom Satyabrata Singh, lost, but she has left a mark in the body politic of Manipur.

On the question of any future alliance, Biren Singh has reiterated that the BJP will adhere to the doctrine of “coalition dharma” but ruled out any tie-ups with former ally NPP. He also said that there were no Chief Ministerial candidates of the BJP in any of the five States that went to polls recently and added that the question of choosing a CM would be left to the top brass of the saffron brigade.

It is clear that Biren Singh would be a strong contender for the top post as he has been able to bring about an absolute majority for the party. But it won’t be a cakewalk for him as Biswajit Singh is a force to reckon with. The second in command in the State’s BJP-led Government and a leader with vast administrative experience, he has held five major portfolios including Public Works, Panchayati Raj, and Information and Public Relations.

On the eve of the last Government’s swearing-in, Biswajit Singh was the clear and popular choice of the 22 BJP MLAs then but the top brass installed Biren Singh who had switched sides from the Congress Party only a few months before.

Biswajit Singh made two abortive efforts to have Biren Singh replaced but that did not receive blessings from the top. But it is unlikely that Biswajit Singh will take things lying down this time around. Sitting on the sidelines with the patience of an owl is Konthoujam. He left the presidency of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, resigned from his MLA post and joined the BJP six months ago.

His entry was reportedly blocked by the local BJP leadership. But Konthoujam has strong Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh roots and close ties - both Biren Singh and Sharda Devi were summoned to New Delhi and made to participate in his induction ceremony into the BJP fold.

Considering the fact that Konthoujam has been representing the Bishnupur Constituency since 1992 without a break and is also a former Minister, it is most likely that the BJP’s top brass might not depend on a headcount of MLAs supporting anybody contending to be the CM and might just impose Konthoujam’s name for the top post by way of a compromise.

But all said and done, the people of Manipur are looking forward to an existence without frequent bandhs and blockades and less corruption.