Manipur witnessed a more festive look in the second phase of the assembly elections. A day after a record 88.63% turnout for the first phase, there was excitement in the Herok constituency of Thoubal district. The two-kilometer diversion road from the highway leading to Moreh on the India-Myanmar road took on an attractive form of democracy. Huge saffron flags with prominent thimbles (lotus) welcomed everyone at the Devi Mandap, where Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah was scheduled to address a public rally at 1 pm on Tuesday. It was a vivid departure from the prevalent new normal of door-to-door campaigning with very limited gatherings.
This was the last campaign for Bharatiya Janata Party national leaders in the state with the second and final phase of polling on March 5. Wearing the traditional Manipuri turban, Amit Shah in his address to a gathering of several thousand said that Manipur was a state till five years ago where blockades, drugs and extremism were prevalent. The people of the state had to struggle for the basic rights. He said that the BJP in its five-year rule has said goodbye to bandh, has controlled terrorism and has given new hope of development.
More than 600 bandhs under Congress rule and not a single bandh under BJP rule. Talks will be started with all the militant organizations of Manipur in the next five years. Not a single youth of Manipur will go astray. 9,500 youth have shied away from violence in the Northeast and Himanta Biswa Sarma has shown it in Assam where Karbi, Dimasa and Bodo insurgency have negotiated for peace,” the Union Home Minister said.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convener of the NEDA (Northeast Democratic Alliance), accompanied Shah as he assured the people of the state that Manipur would be made drug-free.
Taking a jibe at the Congress and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the Home Minister said the party left Manipur with Rs 21,000 crore during its tenure, which increased to Rs 35,000 crore during the BJP’s time. He assured the people of the state that once the BJP comes to power again, the old demand of AIIMS will be fulfilled immediately.
In honor of the women power of the state, 10 new Ima Bazaars (Traditional Women’s Market) in all the districts of the state, 121 km long Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal have placed Manipur prominently on the rail map of India. Several National Highways are to be constructed at a cost of Rs.16,233 crores to remove further bottlenecks. Manipur Skill Development University within six months of BJP coming to power.
“Before 2017 there was only one start-up in Manipur, that is a Gandhi family start-up, but today there are 5,477…Give the ‘double-engine’ government five more years and we will establish a peaceful dialogue with the insurgents and Will do. They are part of the mainstream.”
Lauding the pioneers of sports in the state like Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu, Bombayla Devi and Laishram Sarita Devi, Shah promised that Manipur would be made the sports hub of the country. With an investment of Rs 825 crore, the National Sports Bidaya will start in a few years, he promised.
The Sangh tour culminated with sumptuous Manipuri food served on banana leaf plates and bowls at Thokchom Radheshyam’s residence.
The former IPS officer Thokchom Radheshyam and the BJP candidate for the Hirok constituency was elected in 2017 and initially took charge of the education department in the N Biren government. He is against former education minister Moirangthem Okendro Singh during the Congress government. In the 2017 assembly election, Thokchom Radheshyam won the constituency for the BJP by defeating Okendra of Congress by a margin of 1,647 votes. The total number of voters in the Herok constituency that year was 30,297.
In Manipur, the second phase of polling in the remaining 22 assembly constituencies will be held on March 5 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. The first phase of polling in 38 assembly constituencies was held on Monday and a record turnout was recorded with 88.63. % of total electorate 12,09,439. The turnout for males was 87.29% and that of females was 89.96%.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And Assembly Election Live Updates Here.