BJP announces 60 candidates for Manipur Assembly polls

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its candidates for all 60 seats for the Manipur Assembly polls.

The party has done a tightrope walk in announcing the names of the candidates and has retained most of the sitting MLAs to avoid dissension and desertion.

In the list announced, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has been fielded from his traditional Heingang constituency.

The list includes three women candidates - Nemcha Kipgen from Kangpokpi, Soraisam Kebi Devi from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa constituency and SS Olish from Chandel (ST) reserved constituency. Closer analysis suggests the BJP could face a tough fight in eight-ten constituencies in the valley that sends 40 legislators to the 60-member Assembly. In the hills, including Naga stronghold areas, the BJP's list suggests it is banking on the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi vis-a-vis the Naga peace talks and hence the advantage could be with NPF.

The BJP nominees will get the advantage of support from the Kuki population in Churachandpur and the adjoining region.

The saffron party has fielded Okram Henry Singh, nephew of Congress stalwart Ibobi Singh, from the Wangkhei Assembly constituency. Okram Henry Singh was declared as the winner in 2017, but on April 15, 2021, the High Court declared the election result as null and void. It also declared that Yumkham Erabot Singh would be the elected member from the Wangkhei constituency.

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