Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to lead in 21 of the 60 seats of Manipur, as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) trends at 12:30 P.M on March 10, 2022. While a BJP lead was expected to retain power in the state as per exit polls, the party may only just about cross the halfway mark instead of the landslide victory that it had envisioned.

ECI trends showed that BJP was leading with 21 seats around 12:30 P.M, followed by National People’s Party (NPP) in 7 seats. The NPP is an influential party in the region with a footprint in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The party has surpassed the Indian National Congress (Congress) that was once a force to reckon with in the region, but is now on the brink of irrelevance, leading in only 2 seats. The Naga People’s Front (NPF) that decided to go it alone this election, despite being an ally of the BJP in Nagaland, is also showing promise, leading in 6 seats. Surprise entrant Janata Dal (United) had won a seat and was leading in another at the time of going to press.

The trends so far are a far cry from the results of the 2017 elections, when the BJP bagged 21 seats, while the Congress emerged as the single-largest party with 28 seats. BJP members enthusiastically follow this trend.
 

Following the #ManipurElections2022 results along with office bearers and senior leaders at Thambal Shanglen.@BJP4Manipur leads in 23 of the 41 constituencies where counting has begun. pic.twitter.com/yqZT6ltG5R

— Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi (@AShardaDevi) March 10, 2022

Incumbent Chief Minister Nongthomban Biren Singh was leading in Heingang constituency, followed by Congress candidate Pangeijam Saratchandra Singh with a margin of 16,513 votes. Similarly in Heirok, BJP candidate Thokchom Radheshyam Singh was ahead of INC’s Moirangthem Okendro. Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was leading in Thoubal constituency with a 1,580 vote margin, ahead of BJP candidate Leitanthem Basanta Singh.

Earlier, the Congress formed the Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance with Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M), All India Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Janata Dal (Secular). The BJP chose to contest solo.

The state went for polling in two phases on February 28 and March 5. During the first phase, Manipur reported 88.69 percent voter turnout across five districts. Later in the second phase, 90.09 percent voter turnout was reported across six districts. In Goa too, voters reported a great turnout hinting at an anti-incumbency factor. However, BJP seems to be leading in Manipur, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for now.

But it is still too soon to call as the ECI website is at present only showing trends for a little over two-thirds (41 out of 60) of the constituencies.

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Civil rights activist Irom Chanu Sharmila secured only 90 votes am on Saturday, as against Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s 18,649 votes as the 2017 Manipur Assembly elections results were declared. She might lose her deposit of Rs 10,000, a rule for all candidates who get less than one-sixth of votes in a constituency. A total of 143 people had chosen NOTA. She said she would never contest elections again, reported The Indian Express. She told New18 that she had been let down by her people.

Sharmila had faced a severe shortage of funds to campaign for the Peoples’ Resurgence and Justice Alliance, which she had formed after ending her 16-year fast in August 2016. She had been fasting for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Her party raised funds through crowdsourcing while she campaigned on a bicycle. She had also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of offering her money for her campaign, but the saffron camp denied the claim.

Before the counting began, Sharmila had said that money and muscle power were used by other parties to get votes. “I do not feel much affected by the result because people are yet to be given a chance…Everybody knows muscle and money power are openly used,” Sharmila had told NDTV.

She took on Singh on his home turf, calling him the “concerned authority” of her protest. Her transition from activism to politics was greeted with scepticism by the public and by long-time supporters, many of whom melted away after she gave up her fast.

Sharmila’s party ran a door-to-door campaign, speaking out against corruption, domestic violence and human rights violations, largely addressing an audience of women. But it was not enough in the Thoubal constituency, which Ibobi has held since 2007 and where he commands impressive support.

Courtesy: Scroll
 
 

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On the basis of a report by poll authorities in Manipur, the EC had yesterday directed the state chief electoral officer to get the FIRs filed.

The advertisements were published yesterday ahead of the first phase of elections in the state.

The Commission identified the papers as Sangai Express — Manipuri and English editions — Poknapham, People’s Chronicle, Naharolgi, Thoudang, Imphal free press, Echel Express and Huiyen Lanpao.

While there is no bar on the publication of election advertisements 48 hours before the polling, a rule introduced by the Commission during the Bihar Assembly polls says that such advertisements should be cleared by its media certification and monitoring committee.

It states that without approval no newspaper will publish such advertisements.

The new rule was enforced after the BJP brought out some controversial advertisements during the Bihar elections.
 

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PRJA is the first regional party in Manipur which has resorted to crowdfunding to finance the poll expenses in the state.

According to PRJA sources, online crowdfunding with a slogan “Ten For a Change” is an idea in order to involve more people, bring in transparency in election funding and reach out to the masses.

The PRJA so far has collected Rs 4.5 lakh through crowdfunding.

“The online crowdfunding is in line with the party s call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds. Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don’t have transparency in their funds,” PRJA’s convener, Erendro Leichonbam told PTI.

“We want to play a positive part in the politics of India, that s why we launched the crowd funding. From the beginning itself every single rupee is accounted for and we know who has donated it unlike others who don t disclose majority of their fund sources,” he added.

Irom Sharmila, while briefing about the idea of online crowdfunding, said, “Online crowd-fund is also aimed at ending muscle and money power in elections. Our aim is to change the system for a better Manipur.”

Erendo says, the iconic stature and acceptance of Irom across the country has helped the party in organising this programme.

PRJA is contesting in three seats in the 60 member assembly. Sharmila herself is fighting against Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in Thoubal constituency.

In terms of poll campaign too, PRJA is trying to bring in a new trend in reaching out to the people by cycling through the streets of the constituencies.

Even as candidates of BJP and Congress have chosen going on foot or car as a primary mode of campaign, Sharmila is using cycle to campaign in various constituencies including Thoubal constituency where she is fighting the polls.

The party candidates are also using cycle as the mode of campaign in the districts.

According to PRJA leaders, Sharmila’s passion for cycling has also shown her a way to get close to the people of her state and spread her vision and seek support for her party.

“It also helps to stay healthy and saves a lot of money,” said a PRJA leader.

According to Erendo, apart from cycling in the constituency and personally talking to the people, PRJA is holding small personal meetings in each and every household of the three constituencies.

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