Congress may manage at least one seat each in Manipur and Meghalaya
Can Himanta defeat Gaurav Gogoi too ?
New Delhi
It is always advisable to take 'Opinion Poll' in a dynamic and vibrant democracy like
India with a pinch of salt.
But some statistics and such surveys can be throwing up debates on other more
important and significant political theories and on the levels of governance.
Now, can we get something common between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi?
The Congress leader is undecided about how to handle Amethi and Rae Bareli while the Prime Minister is not sure about his Manipur visit.
Modi skipped campaigning in Mizoram in 2023 assembly polls where Mizos share ethnic bond with Kukis.
Ethnic clashes for about five months since May last year have resulted in the loss of over 200 lives in Manipur and thousands rendered homeless. A substantial number of them have taken shelter in Mizoram.
The Inner Manipur seat and some areas of the Outer Manipur constituency will vote in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining segments of the Outer Manipur seat will go to poll in phase 2 on April 26.
Those living in camps in violence-hit Manipur will be allowed to vote from their temporary settlements.
The survey by India TV-CNX gives the BJP-led NDA a huge advantage at the national level. But importantly, it says Congress will win no seat in 14-seats rich Assam but can pick up one seat each in Manipur and Meghalaya.
From the context of Manipur, does it mean the NPF will lose the tribal-hub Outer Manipur seat ?
In Manipur while for the Meitei-Hindu stronghold Inner Manipur constituency, state Education Minister
Th. Basantakumar Singh has been fielded as the BJP nominee; for the second seat Outer Manipur -- where there
are an overwhelming number of Naga and Kuki Christian tribals, the BJP has left the seat for its ally
Naga People’s Front (NPF).
A former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Kachui Timothy Zimik is the NPF candidate. He has replaced
the sitting MP Lorho S. Pfoze, who had polled 3,63,527 (that is 42.37) percent of votes in 2019 and had defeated
BJP’s H Shokhopao Mate Benjamin. The Congress nominee K James had finished third polling 1,52,510 votes.
It remains to be seen how Kukis will vote. And whether ther can influence the outcome in Outer Manipur ?
Congress nominee for Inner Manipur A K Bimol is critical of the BJP dispensation and quite candid.
“Manipur voters need to be extra cautious ….. if voters are carried away by money and muscle power like the
past elections, then we will pay a bigger price".
Various dynamics are already in play and NPF candidate Zimik has a tough contest ahead in Outer Manipur.
Local residents in Senapati and Naga-dominated Ukhrul districts say a few independent candidates may
make life miserable for NPF. Tribes such as Poumai may harm the prospect of the NPF candidate.
The candidates contesting for the Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary Constituency seat are Alfred Kanngam S
Arthur (Congress), Zimik (NPF) and there are two Independents Alyson Abonmai and S Kho John.
There are six candidates for Inner Manipur.
In Christian stronghold state of Meghalaya, the BJP has opted out of the poll race in order to support its regional partner
National People’s Party (NPP) led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
If the latest survey is to be given credence, the Shillong seat where the Congress has fielded sitting MP Vincent Pala
should come back to the grand old party. The NPP nominee for the seat is srate Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh.
But the survey claiming no seat for Congress in Assam will be frustrating enough for sitting MP Gaurav
Gogoi. He is pitted against sitting MP Topon Kumar Gogoi.
The Jorhat Lok Sabha seat was considered a Congress bastion before 2014 when BJP’s Kamakhya Prasad
Tasa captured the fortress by defeating Congress veteran Bijoy Krishna Handique by a margin of
over 1 lakh votes.
In the 2019 polls, the saffron party’s Topon Kumar Gogoi defeated Congress candidate Sushanta Borgohain
by over 82,000 votes. There is also a CPI candidate in Jorhat.
ends
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