When BJP fails to Modi-fy Hiyanglam
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 21, 2014 -

While the whole country seems to get frenzied with the ‘charismatic’ leader Narendra Modi following BJP’s landslide victory in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the few thousand voters of Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency in Thoubal district have turned out to be a different lot.

The BJP has toppled the Congress bastion in Maharashtra and Haryana in the Assembly Elections with a clear mandate from the people.

However, the charm of Narendra Modi and BJP’s ‘tsunami’ wave fail to reach this north-eastern part of India.

It was highly expected that the BJP’s candidate Maibam Dhanabir, son of late sitting MLA of Hiyanglam A/C Maibam Kunjo, would win the Hiyanglam by-poll.

But, the by-poll turned out to be a disappointment for the State BJP. The Congress candidate and former MLA of Hiyanglam A/C Elangbam Dwijamani has once again come back to the State Assembly by beating his nearest rival Dr Yumnam Radheshyam by a margin of more than 1000 votes, while the BJP’s candidate Maibam Dhanabir finished at the third spot with a little more than 6000 votes.

The loss of a ‘sure-shot’ seat needs a serious thinking on the part of State BJP leaders.

Earlier this year, the BJP has also lost both Lok Sabha seats of the State. The saffron-party has been out of the State Assembly for the last three consecutive terms, and the Hiyanglam by-poll was a golden opportunity for the BJP to re-enter the House.

Notably, BJP’s Maibam Dhanabir is not the first kin of a sitting MLA to lose the by-election.

In the previous term, Congress candidate Sapam Ranjan, son of late Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly and MLA of Konthoujam A/C Sapam Budhichandra, also lost the by-election held after the demise of his father.

Now, the Congress has strongly secured its bastion in the State. It won 42 out of 60 seats in the last State Assembly election.

With the joining of five MLAs from MSCP and winning another seat in this by-poll, the Congress now has strength of 48 MLAs in the State.

Going by the present trend, no political party seems to be too strong to bring the anti-incumbency wave against the Congress in the State.

The BJP may win some seats in the next State Assembly election due to its strong presence at the Centre, but forming the government will be a herculean task.

The State BJP is often reported to be in crisis with some senior members demanding the change of leadership.

A national party, which is in power at the Centre and many other big states, has not been very fierce in Manipur’s politics.

The ‘Modi-effect’ and the rising wave of BJP do not have any significant impact on the State.

The Hiyanglam by-poll is a good lesson for the BJP to get prepared for the next Assembly election.

The State BJP leaders should try to work out, rather chanting the hymns of their national leaders. Modi seems to be very promising in delivering good governance to the people.

He has really done some commendable jobs in his first few months in office.

Whether people of Manipur really perceive the charismatic effect of Narendra Modi or not will be known from the mandate of next State Assembly election.

Hiyanglam by-poll was just a trailer, the full picture is scheduled for release in 2017.