Manipur Assembly Elections 2022: Protests, resignations after BJP announces candidates; security stepped up

Protests erupted in Manipur on Sunday and a number of leaders resigned from the Manipur BJP after the party released its list of candidates including some ex-Congress leaders for the upcoming Assembly polls.

Effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N Biren Singh were burned and party offices ransacked in various parts of the state as protesters gathered in several areas with placards, NDTV reported.

Security has been stepped up around the BJP headquarters in Imphal, NDTV reported.

A number of leaders have resigned though the exact number remained unclear, as per the report. Sources told NDTV most of the disgruntled leaders were those who were not selected to accommodate defectors from Congress.

BJP, which is seeking a second term in Manipur,announced tickets for candidates for all 60 Assembly seats on Sunday.  Singh will be contesting the election from Heingang. PWD minister in the government Thangom Biswajit Singh will contest from Thongju.

The party has given tickets to people cutting across sections of society including women doctors, IAS officers and sportspersons.

Former footballers N Biren Singh, Letpao Haokip and Somatai Shaiza have been fielded. Martial Arts player Yumnam Khemchand Singh has been given a ticket.

BJP has fielded three retired IAS officers Kh. Raghumani Singh, Yengkhom Surchandra Singh and Dinganglung Gangmei (Dipu) who has taken VRS recently.

The party which had given Manipur its first woman president namely Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi has fielded three women candidates, namely Soraisam Kebi Devi, SS Olish and Nemcha Kipgen.

Only tickets of two candidates, who were sitting MLAs, have been cut.

"When PM Narendra Modi came to Manipur, the people were so overjoyed and felt happy that PM Narendra Modi holds us so close in his heart. So, in return, the people of Manipur have now decided that they will keep PM Modi close to their hearts by electing the government with a two-third majority," Sambit Patra, BJP Manipur in-charge said.

The BJP has set itself a target of winning two-thirds majority with at least 40 seats out of 60 seats.

"BJP will contest all the 60 seats and will get a majority on its own. The Modi government has ensured that Manipur will get a stable government and will continue to ensure the development and peace of the region," BJP's Manipur election in-charge Bhupendra Yadav announced.

Released BJP’s candidate list for Manipur with Shri Sambit Patra ji. BJP will contest on all 60 seats and win a 2-3rds majority due to people’s faith in PM Shri @narendramodi ji’s vision for Northeast and CM Shri N Biren Singh ji’s work in ensuring peace & progress in the state. pic.twitter.com/P7i5mOuNAr

— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) January 30, 2022

Currently, the NDA, led by the BJP, is in majority in the Assembly. This includes 30 BJP MLAs and three MLAs from NPP and four NDF and three Independents.

Leading the NDA government, Biren Singh on 15 March, 2017, formed the government in Manipur. It, however, got a major jolt in June 2020, when nine MLAs, including ministers, withdrew their support from the government, reducing it to a minority. An intervention by the central leadership within a week resulted in four NPP MLAs coming back to the NDA fold, thereby averting the fall of the government.

Manipur goes into polls in two phases – 27 February, 2022, and 3 March, 2022, for polling on 60 Assembly seats. Results will be announced on 10 March, 2022.

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