Gearing up for 2017 Assembly polls : State BJP on a high
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 15 2016 -
Not an inch of State boundary to be affected : Amit Shah :: Pix - TSE
He came, he saw. Whether he conquered or not will perhaps only be known when results of the Assembly election start trickling in next year.
But besides this, it is undeniable that the State unit of the BJP is on a high and it has reasons to feel that perhaps Manipur can be the next State in the North East after Assam to go to the BJP.
A look at some recent developments should underline this.
After two candidates of the BJP comfortably romped home in the by election at Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency and Thongju Assembly Constituency, the BJP has been on a high and why not ?
From no MLA after the 2012 Assembly election, today it has two, thanks to the by elections and it seems to be making all the right noises.
Just recall how the BJP stole the thunder from the State Government (read the Congress) after the 2013 DPC for recruiting police Constables was cancelled on grounds that were not at all tenable.
Again remember how the State Government (again read the Congress) had to beat a hasty retreat from the nonsensical decision to house women vendors on either side of the road at Thangal bazar.
This was primarily due to the open dissension demonstrated by BJP MLA from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, Kh Joykishan.
And now Y Erabot, the political strongman from Wangkhei Assembly Constituency has quit the Congress and the Assembly and joined the BJP.
So while everything that can go right has been going right for the BJP, for the Congress everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong.
The massive turn out at Hapta Kangjeibung where BJP National president Amit Shah addressed the people underlines how the party has been going from strength to strength and this cannot be comfortable for the Congress at all.
Early days yet but if the BJP can keep up the tempo and continue to be in touch with the people then the Congress will not find it as easy as in 2012.
How the BJP reaches out to the other political parties, which have a base in the State remains to be seen but it is likely that some sort of an understanding may be worked out with the Naga People’s Front in the Naga dominated districts of Manipur.
So 2017 will essentially be a race between the BJP and the Congress and the interesting question is who the BJP will project as the Chief Ministerial candidate.
The two will also seek to convey the message that Manipur is important to them and it is in line with this that the State may witness some star campaigners from the Centre ahead of the Assembly election.
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