Political parties scramble to forge alliances
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 07 2022:
As the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly comes to a close and the results of the polls are set to be declared on March 10, political parties are scrambling to form post-poll alliances.
Taking into account that no political party will able to get absolute majority, Indian National Congress is discussing a possible post-poll alliance with National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People s Front (NPF), which are part of the present BJP-led coalition government, along with Janata Dal (United).
Both NPP and NPF were peeved after BJP had announced that it will form a BJP-only government, while rejecting any prospect of forming a coalition with any other political party.
In addition, both NPP and BJP took jabs at each other during the election campaigns, and NPP national president Conrad Sangma had expressed his dissatisfaction with the BJP-led coalition, thereby further deepening the cracks between the two parties.
Meanwhile, JD(U), the newest entrant in the political arena of the state, is likely to open account for some of the seats, thereby increasing the party's growing importance in the formation of the new state government.
On the other hand, INC leader O Ibobi had extended invitations to other political parties for post-poll alliance, following which the party has taken Up steps in this regard.
According to a source, NPP which is predicted to win many of the seats has taken an initiative to form a postpoll alliance with INC instead of BJP.
The source conveyed that a team led by NPP national president Conrad Sangma had met with a team led by INC leaders Jairam Ramesh and Bhakta Charan Das and discussed forming an alliance to form the government.
INC, on its part, had expressed firm belief that no political party will getting absolute majority and as such, has been discussing with like-minded parties to form a united front, the source added.