Guwahati: BJP on Monday deployed two big weapons – Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Assam Himanta Buswa Sarma – to defend Manipur where five allies in NDA – BJP, NPF, NPP, JD (U) and Republican Party Athaware) – Fighting Fight each other.
Among 38 of the total 60 seats that will go to the poll in the first phase on February 28, BJP will collide with NPP in 27 seats, JD (U) in 28 seats and Athawale chairs in five seats.
In addition, BJP was pitted against the rival Arch Congress in 35 of these seats.
In the second phase poll that will be held on March 5, the BJP rival will be a NPF in 10 seats.
While JD (U) and Athaware’s Group have been with BJP before, partnerships with two parties based in northeast NPP (National Party) and NPF sewn post-polls in 2017 to help BJP Hoist the first government in Manipur.
BJP then partnered NPP to form a government in Meghalaya.
BJP has thrown out NPF for NDPP to form a government in Nagaland in 2018 to 2021 when the NPF returned to the fold.
Singh campaigned at Singjamei, the constitution of Langshabal and Thangmeiband assembly while Sarma campaigned in Khurai, all of which would go to the poll in the first phase.
In Singjamei, Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who was a speaker from the legislature that came out, was facing a candidate from two Lpp-NPP Oinam Romen Singh and JD (U) Ngangbam Robert Singh – In addition to fighting against Irengbam Hemochandra Singh from Congress arch.
In Langthabal, Karam Shyam BJP was trapped in a three-cornered contest with Veteran Congress Okram Joy Singh who jumped from BJP to Congress and Karam Nabakishor Singh of NPP.
In Thangmeiband, Jyotin Waikhom BJP was pitted against JD (U) Khumukchan Joykisan Singh and also Hijam Nutanchandra Singh Congress.
Singh spoke how both ‘faces’ and ‘fortune’ northeast “changed quickly” since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took control of India.
“In the past seventy years, how did the Congress Government, who has been here for most of the time, ignoring Manipur and other northeastern states? This reflects the mindset of anti-development and anti-northeast congresses,” he said.
On the other hand, in the Khurai constituency where Sarma stated that the Congress in the State will be reduced to five seats in the upcoming polls, the candidate for his party Leishangthem Susindro Meitei was pitted against the three allies candidates – Loitongbam Jayananda Singh of NPP, Toijam Lokendro Singh from JD ( U) And Khagokpam Khamba Singh from the Republic of India (Athaware).