Manipur votes today once troubled by bloodshed the state sort of stabilised much rides on its politics

Manipur votes today once troubled by bloodshed the state sort of stabilised much rides on its politics

With BJP becoming the first non-Congress party in Manipur to complete a full five-year tenure, the diverse north-eastern state presents a complex political scenario. Old divisions between the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and hill districts controlled by Nagas and Kukis linger; insurgent groups have made sporadic attempts to disrupt political activities in recent weeks. But a relatively new development is the rising political violence between party workers, with guns, worryingly, becoming one of the weapons of choice.

But till elections neared, chief minister N Biren Singh could have boasted of a relatively peaceful tenure. Achievements like rail connectivity reaching the state and a slew of road projects will bolster BJP but the pandemic dented the state’s remittance economy, powered mainly by young migrants working in the hospitality sector. However, BJP is also troubled by the legacy of the imperfect 2017 victory. After taking office with just 21 legislators, many of them Congress imports, BJP chose to engineer more defections from Congress. With too many ticket contenders, there have been desertions.

Plus, ties between Biren and his allies, NPP and NPF, are frosty. BJP is contesting all 60 seats, NPF has fielded 10 candidates, and NPP is fighting in 38 seats, pitching itself as the “party of the Northeast”. Taking a cue from NPF, Kukis have also floated a party. Congress has benefited from the churn in BJP but the field may now be hopelessly divided for any party to corner the entire anti-incumbency vote. JD(U), having briefly governed Manipur in its earlier Samata avatar, has attracted many jilted BJP and Congress ticket aspirants.

Still, representative politics, despite imperfections, is better than strife. AFSPA remains a blot on Manipur’s democracy. Post-elections, the Centre must consider killing that draconian law.