The Congress has swept Manipur to do a hat-trick in power and thereby, buried the hopes of an 11-party Opposition coalition. The party won 42 seats in the 60-member house, 12 more than its 2007 tally of 30.
“The people have said that there’s no alternative to Congress,” chief minister O Ibobi Singh said after the final results were out on Tuesday.
The Congress had to defeat an anti-incumbency factor and a threat from a conglomerate of seven militant outfits which had boycotted the party in the polls. The militants attacked several Congress candidates and its supporters in the run-up to the polls.
The victory of Congress only established that the people had no faith in a multi-party alliance after their experience of a turbulent coalition phase from 2000-01.
The Trinamool Congress, a constituent of Opposition alliance, made an impressive debut winning seven seats. The party had set up 47 candidates, second highest after Congress’ 60.
Others who did well were Naga People’s Front (4), a new entrant, and Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP).
The MSCP, which drew a blank in 2007, was rejuvenated with five seats.
The hardest-hit included Nationalist Congress Party (1) and regional Manipur People’s Party (MPP). In fact, MPP has been wiped out.
The Congress’ sweep was not just in its stronghold Imphal Valley where the Manipuris are in majority, the party also performed well in tribal-dominated hill districts.
Ibobi, his wife Landhoni Devi, ministers Y Erabot Singh and N Biren Singh were among the prominent winners. Former chief minister and Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam and regional Manipur People’s Party leader O Joy were among the heavyweights to bite the dust.
Congress leader and former chief minister Rishang Keishing said the victory was on expected line.
“We expected that we would win 30 seats. We had never expected to win that many seats,” a candid Keishing told DNA.
“The other parties are opportunistic. So, the people have voted in favour of the Congress. They believe Congress is the only party which can protect the territorial integrity of Manipur,” he said.
—-Agencies