Cong eyes 8-10 seats in hills, 20-22 in valley
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 23 2022: Congress will win big in 8 to 10 constituencies of the 20 hill assembly constituencies in the state, while also securing victory in at least 20 valley constituencies of the state in the upcoming 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, predicted a senior politician of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the politician pointed out that as there is no possibility of any political party getting absolute majority in the upcoming polls, another coalition government seems inevitable.

Indian National Congress (INC) has come to some sort of understandings with other like-minded parties to form the coalition government.

The fielding of candidates will also be carried out based on these understandings.

The leader acknowledged that candidates of INC and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are fierce opponents in the hill districts.

Of the 20 assembly constituencies in the hills, nine have less voters from the Naga community, while the other 11 are dominated by the same community.

Candidates from Naga People's Front (NPF) and INC are likely to win in the Naga dominated constituencies, while in the remaining 9 the battle will be between BJP and INC.

Thus, INC is likely to win in 8 to 10 hill constituencies, he explained, adding that of the 40 valley constituencies, the party is likely to secure victory in at least 20 constituencies.

Despite the ruling BJP government's claims in the media of being people-oriented, the people especially in the hill districts are dissatisfied.

Five new hill districts were created in the time of INC-led coalition government for administration convenience.

However, the new districts have become defunct under the present BJP government as no executive administrative officials have been appointed till date.

As such, the growing dissatisfaction of the people is bound to be reflected in the upcoming polls, the leader maintained.

Additionally, the usage of helicopters to visit the hill districts by the chief minister and other ministers of the ruling government for conduct of 'Go to Hills' or cabinet meetings has failed to impress the people of the said districts.

All are just plays/dramas being orchestrated by BJP and as such, this will be the biggest reason of BJP's defeat in the hill districts, the leader added.

On the other hand, a senior politician of MPCC said that it is a matter of question whether the 5-6 intending BJP candidates in some constituencies will truly uphold the vow to support whoever gets the party ticket.

Even if by some miracle the candidates were to support the one who is allotted the ticket, the acceptance cannot be expected from his/her workers and supporters.

Thus, BJP's end is guaranteed once it announces the names of party candidates.

"The BJP intending candidates in many constituencies are like Pomelo (Nobap) fruit, which looks united and beautiful on the outside but are completely unintegrated inside," the politician commented.

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