In the run up to the Parliamentary polls : The issues that can impact
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: December 10 2018 -
As stated earlier in this column, the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in the early part of next year will be much more crucial to the State BJP than to the State Congress for reasons which should be obvious to all.
In the first place, it is the BJP which is in power at Imphal and judging by the past performances of political parties at the Parliamentary elections, it has been the norm for the party ruling the State to win the election, particularly in the Inner Parliamentary Constituency.
This fact must have already dawned on Chief Minister N Biren and the BJP leadership and this is where it will be interesting to see how the two principal political parties go to the people to win their trust and confidence.
For the Congress, one can expect it to flog the BJP led Government with many issues, such as the Framework Agreement, the recent MU crisis and the arrest of an individual, Kishorechandra Wangkhem.
With the Manipur Students’ Association, Delhi (MSAD) and North East Federation of International Solidarity (NEFIS) taking up cudgels on behalf of the young man, who is presently languishing at Sajiwa jail, the Congress will obviously have the needed ammos to fire at the BJP led Government.
How effective this will be remains to be seen, but it would do good for the BJP led Government at Imphal to come to the point that the ‘intolerant’ tag that has been given to BJP Governments in different States can certainly have a significant say when election time comes.
And obviously Parliamentary election is just the right platform to highlight this point.
How the BJP led Government goes about to neutralise this remains to be seen but it will be interesting.
The BJP obviously will bank on its strength and one can expect it to go to town with the slogan that after the BJP led Government came to power, the equation between the hills and the valley has changed for the better.
This is where it will have a point and perhaps the biggest indication towards this may lie in the fact that the Government of Manipur is today no longer the ‘communal Government of Manipur’ to the United Naga Council and other civil society organisations based in the hills.
The agreement that was signed with the CCpur JAC after which the mortal remains of those killed in the protest against the Bill passed by the State Assembly on August 31, 2015 were claimed, will also be trumped by the BJP led Government.
The State level tag given to the Shirui Lily Festival can also go some way in winning the trust of the people, particularly in the Outer Parliamentary Constituency.
The ability to strike alliances with political parties which have a significant say in the Inner and Outer Parliamentary Constituencies will also go a long way in determining the fortune of the two political parties.
This is where it will be interesting to see if the Congress will be able to strike a pre-poll deal with the Left.
This can have an impact in the Inner seat.
On the other hand, it will also be interesting to see if the BJP can strike a deal with the NPF in the Outer seat.
This can obviously go some way in winning the people, particularly in the Naga dominated districts.
In short the issues in the Inner and Outer seats will be vastly different.
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