Manipur Election 2022: Will BJP Overcome The AFSPA Hurdle To Win A Second Consecutive Term?
BJP, which ended the 15-year rule of the Congress in the 2017 election, is in a catch-22 situation as most of the CMs of north-eastern states, including Manipur, have demanded a repeal of AFSPA.
New Delhi: The electoral battle in the north-eastern state of Manipur has assumed a greater significance with the sticky issue of the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act rearing its head ahead of the polls following the civilian killings in Nagaland.
Manipur, which has 60 seats, goes to polls next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
BJP On A Sticky Wicket Over AFSPA Issue
The ruling BJP, which ended the 15-year rule of the Congress in the 2017 election, is in a catch-22 situation as most of the chief ministers of north-eastern states, including Manipur, have demanded a repeal of AFSPA.
AFSPA, which gives sweeping powers to the security forces to maintain public order in 'disturbed areas', has been a contentious issue in the north-east states. Civil society members and activists have claimed that AFSPA gives security personnel a free hand to carry out excesses.
A renewed and determined call to withdraw the Act has gained momentum following the outrage over the December 4 incident in Mon district of Nagland, where 14 people were killed.
On December 4, Army personnel mistook coal mine workers returning home in a van to be insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the banned outfit NSCN (K) and opened fire, killing six people. Eight others, including an Army man, were killed in subsequent clashes between the forces and villagers.
Congress Promises Push To Repeal AFSPA If Voted To Power
The Congress has jumped the bandwagon, promising to push for "the immediate and complete removal of AFSPA" from Manipur if it was elected to power in the Assembly election.
Congress rule removed AFSPA from 7 Assembly Constituencies. If Congress comes back to power in 2022, the 1st Cabinet meeting will decide on the immediate and complete removal of AFSPA from the entire state of Manipur, as stated by Working President & MLA @meghachandra_k.
— Ningombam Bupenda Meitei (@BupendaMeitei) December 11, 2021
"If Congress returns to power in 2022, the first Cabinet meeting will decide on the immediate and complete removal of AFSPA from the entire state," said Manipur Congress spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei.
The Congress has also harped on the fact that AFSPA had been withdrawn from seven constituencies in Manipur, including state capital Imphal, when it was in power in 2004.
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While the BJP has been mum on the issue, the party has intensified campaigning in the state. BJP chief JP Nadda has already visited Manipur thrice since October, addressing many rallies, while Home Minister Amit Shah visited the state once.
In October, Amit Shah, during his visit to Andaman and Nicobar islands, rechristened Mount Harriet island as Mount Manipur in the memory of those who sacrificed their life from the northeastern state during the 1857 Revolution against the British.
During his visit to the state in November, Amit Shah said there had been a significant improvement in law and order situation, education, power and other infrastructure sectors under the N Biren Singh government.
The saffron party has also sought to remind voters during campaigning of the introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Manipur in 2020, with Amit Shah calling it the "biggest gift" to the state by the BJP.
ILP, which has been a long standing demand of certain groups in Manipur, is a document that Indian citizens from other states are required to possess to enter a protected area for a limited period. This ensures the protection of indigenous population from migration by Indian nationals from other states and their access to land, jobs, and other facilities.
Defections, Infighting Plague Both BJP & Congress
The BJP came to power in Manipur for the first time in 2017. Even though Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats, BJP formed the government with support from NPP, NPF and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).
The Congress has, however, seen defection of several MLAs since then, including that of state party chief Govindas Konthoujam in August this year. Govindas Konthoujam, a former minister and six-time Congress MLA from Bishnupur, later joined the BJP.
It has also not been smooth sailing for the BJP as well, with reports of a rift with its coalition partner NPP. Conrad Sangma's NPP is disenchanted with two of the four NPP ministers being dropped from the Cabinet. Sangma, who has also demanded withdrawal of AFSPA, said the NPP would go alone this time and contest around 40 seats in Manipur.
The latest survey by ABP-CVoter has predicted a close contest this time. BJP is likely to win 29-33 seats, the Congress 23-27 and Naga People’s Front (NPF) 2-6 in the 60-member Manipur Assembly, the survey predicted.
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