Elections in a small state in north-eastern India often do not attract much attention. And, over the years, Manipur has become more known for its insurgency problem. So, when you get the task of covering the assembly elections in this state, you look forward to it.
I have covered West Bengal elections for more than 15 years. so were Manipur Election going to be very different? It was on my mind when I boarded the flight, but as soon as I landed in Manipur, I could see that it was truly a “land of gems”. The outer part is ornate hills and the inner part is a valley. From Loktak, India’s largest freshwater lake to the impressive hills, everything was clearly visible from above.
The shadow of the pandemic still lingered, with airport staff strictly enforcing COVID protocols, perhaps more so than some of the country’s major airports.
different vibe
I got into the car and as I entered Imphal city, banners and posters of various political parties could be seen all around. Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Nitish Kumar, it was all there. Interestingly, unlike many other states, no one around was campaigning over loudspeakers.
My driver, 54-year-old Budham Singh, excitedly said, “BJP will be… peace is there… Livelihood is important for us and the last 5 years were better. Who will be the chief minister? This is the biggest buzzword in Imphal.”
I wanted to know the mood of the political party camp. As soon as we reached the BJP office, the discussion was clearly visible. The workers were engaged in planning and people in the war room were monitoring and sending tweets, as well as keeping an eye on various media.
The enthusiasm of preparation in the Congress office on BT Road was not the same as before. Party supporters said, “The leaders are very busy, they are campaigning. That’s why they don’t come in the morning.”
Unlike other states, while the capital of Manipur was embellished with billboards, banners and festivities, the city had no gatherings blocking roads, no loudspeakers, no sloganeering.
Ima Market (Mother’s Market) in Imphal is Asia’s largest women-run market. Seeing women engaged in business, one wonders why in Manipur’s history of women empowerment, their representation in the state’s electoral landscape is so low. Amani Thang, 55, said, “We are busy in the market, we are hearing that the thamba (lotus) of the BJP will come. There were no bandhs for the last 5 years, but whether there has been any major development or not, it is doubtful.
Local resident Shankar Jha sitting there said, “Don’t ask him. We will decide who to vote for.”
Given the history of naked women marching during the Manorama Devi scandal, such insensitive remarks from men give the impression that things have not changed much in Manipur.
Our first day in Manipur included a meeting with Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Former BSF jawan, footballer, journalist, Congress leader and now BJP CM were campaigning since 8 am.
We went with him from the Scheduled Caste constituency to Kammai, and again there was no loudspeaker, no sloganeering, no big rally much to our surprise. I saw the women of the village bring rice, fruits and vegetables to the house of candidate Dingo Singh. Others started clapping as soon as they entered. We saw a big flag and preparations for the puja were going on.
The chief minister told us, “This is our way of campaigning. All political parties ask Pandits for time, we do flag worship and then hoist the flag. Our supporters from villages bring whatever they have to their homes and show their support to us.” It was very different from the election campaign that I had seen in Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, etc. The campaign was going on but in a festive mood.
signs of insurgency
Manipur has been a troubled state due to insurgency and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been invoked here since the 1980s. But there is a difference in perceptions about place and reality.
It was also interesting that all the top political leaders who came to campaign in Manipur remained in the Classic Grand. So this hotel had a special attraction, and we learned that the famous BJP alliance game prepared by Himanta Biswa Sharma in 2017 took place here.
We met Bhakta Charan Das, Congress observer from Manipur, there. “Things will change. Though some people have left our party, but this time we have promised loyalty to the people… AFSPA should be abolished, that too is part of our campaign.”
When we came out after talking to Das, we realized that more than 15 MLAs have switched sides since 2017; So this type of swearing was not unexpected. But will it work?
In the 2017 Manipur elections, the Congress had won 28 seats and the BJP 21. But, despite this, the saffron party was able to garner the support of the NPP and NPF to form the government.
Local journalists say that the National People’s Party (NPP), formed by PA Sangma, now overseen by his son and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, contested 10 Manipur seats in 2017 and won 4. ,
According to the locals, our next day’s destination was the hills, the most neglected part of Manipur. He says that less than 1 per cent of the state budget has been allocated for this sector. Christians dominate the hills. Nine of Manipur’s 16 districts are in the hills. But the road showed that the development here is much less as compared to the valley.
We traveled to the Saikot constituency, where champion boxer Mary Kom’s husband K Onler Kom was contesting as an independent candidate after villagers told him that he needed development and the right person to represent him.
An elderly resident said, “Multispecialty hospitals, schools etc are missing in the hills. We also have the right to development.”
The BJP government says that CM Biren Singh has started programs like ‘Go to the Hills’ and now development is taking place.
salute to netaji
Our car proceeded to Moirang where the Indian National Army (INA) of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a symbol of the freedom movement, first unfurled the Indian flag in 1944. The INA War Museum is here to welcome you. From Netaji’s letter to the weapons used in the war, everything is on display. The experience of history also throws light on the politics of the present. Sharatchandra Singh, who was with the BJP in 2017, is now the Congress candidate here and Prithviraj, the Congress’s 2017 candidate, is the BJP’s choice as the two switched sides after failing to get a ticket. There is also the grandson of Saratchandra K Singh who helped in hoisting the flag in 1944 and went to jail.
Though both the candidates said that they have done everything for Netaji, the mood in Moirang appears to be tilted towards the NPP, which has called for revocation of AFSPA and many want to give it a chance.
The situation in the vicinity of Loktak Lake was pathetic. The fishermen there earn a small amount every day. Some have got loans, some have not. Minga Peck, a local fisherman, said, “Now that we are scared, we know there will be some development on the lake. Golf club. This will hamper our livelihood. What will happen to us? We have no option and we will vote for BJP.
This void in opposition was felt at many places in Manipur. It seems that many people will vote for BJP as they do not see any other option.
Our car went to Churachandpur. The area witnessed a deadly attack on November 13 as the commanding officer of the Assam Rifles, his wife and son along with four other soldiers were killed when some armed men attacked his convoy with IEDs. We could feel the increased security. Removal of AFSPA is also a big issue here and apart from BJP almost all political parties have kept it in their manifesto.
Biren Singh told us that repeal of AFSPA is a continuous process for which environment has to be created.
As we stood to drink tea at Churachandpur market, a local teacher told us, “We need to come out of the identity of this ‘rebellion’. Not everyone supports it. Rather, after the incident of November 13, we took out rallies. Why are we tagged like this?”
This was a common practice among many people of the district and the state.
When we met Conrad Sangma, who was campaigning in Manipur, he said, “In 2017, we just thought of landing here and we contested only 10 seats and we got four. We are getting huge response because there is no party which feels swadeshi to the people.
the day that matters
Manipur results of March 10 will decide the truth of many claims. BJP says that it will get more than 40 seats out of the total 60 assembly seats. The NPP says that this time it will be the king and not the kingmaker. Congress has promised “change”. What happens after the election will be very interesting. The NPP, which joined hands with the BJP last time, this time during the campaign blamed the saffron party in many ways.
The day we reached Manipur, we saw a lot of posters of Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar and leader of Janata Dal (United). A local hotel employee to a tea seller, many said that this time the JD(U) will open its account in Manipur. It has caught the candidates who did not get tickets from BJP, Congress etc. But its star candidate is Thounaojam Brinda.
The former constable, who challenged the administration, is now contesting from Yaskul. “We have to save Manipur from drugs and other wrong things. JD(U) is a national party and I believe it.
Before heading back to Kolkata we decided to have the famous Manipuri thali. Shrimp, chicken, fish, the famous iromba (a vegetable grower), they were all present. The establishment’s owner Mingpa and the customers were busy discussing politics. “The BJP will win because it is in power at the Centre. But it has to be seen who will be the Chief Minister.
Hate speeches, scary slogans, loudspeakers, rallies blocking roads are all missing from Manipur. Issues of lack of development, extremism etc. are at the fore. That’s why Manipur is different.
The locals want to get rid of the tag of “insurgency”. They want the rest of India to know that they are a state with rich culture and continuous development.
The BJP is seeing an edge in Manipur, but how many numbers the NPP and Congress get, it will certainly be important. And after elections, the numbers can add up in many different ways.
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