New Delhi: Having tasted power in the state and heading a coalition regime for the first time, the BJP has set an ambitious target of 45 seats in the 60-member Manipur assembly.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh now says the saffron party is eyeing 15 seats from the 20 seats in the hilly and Naga inhabited areas and 30 seats from the remaining 45 in the valleys dominated by Meitei Manipuris.
"Despite the assumption of many that BJP is not so popular in hill districts, many are joining the party," the Chief Minister said. 12 key NPF leaders from the hilly region have now joined the BJP. The new entrants include T S Warngam, NPF Farmer Wing Chandel leader Th Angthung, Asem Kom and S Semler.
The Chief Minister said, 'more leaders and supporters' from other political parties have shown interest in joining the BJP. The final decision to embrace them will follow after due consultation with the central leaders by November end.
The NPF has been a BJP ally in Nagaland between 2003 to 2018, and when NPF had split at the organisational level, incumbent Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and others sided with the NDPP.
"The reason why they (NPF members) joined BJP is mainly due to their fondness of our party and the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is also due to substantial developmental changes brought in the state since 2017," he said.
The BJP is running a coalition regime in Manipur and parties such as NPF and NPP, headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
Elections are due in Manipur by February-March next year, and the political activities have only picked up. The Congress party lost power in 2017 after a gap of 15 years. Senior leader Okram Ibobi Singh was in office from March 2002 to March 15, 2017.
The move to win over leaders from NPF at the organisational level has the approval of the central BJP leadership. Two secretary organisations, Abhay Kumar Giri, were also present during the felicitation of the new entrants on November 2.
The worries about the BJP ticket to contest the fast-approaching elections remain.
"The decision on giving the crucial BJP ticket to candidates lies with the parliamentary board of the party. The central leadership and the parliamentary board will assess the potential of candidates based on their works," a source said.
The reported fast progress in Naga peace talks could impact Manipur politics as a substantial Naga population also live in some hilly pockets of Manipur.
Sources, however, caution that the Naga peace talks with militant groups "should not be linked" to polls in states such as Manipur and Assam.
In October 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered officials in his ministry to issue a statement just on the day of crucial discussions on Naga peace parleys stating that no final word has been said or could be said until the states of Manipur, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh have been consulted.
The centre has also rejected the demand for 'integration' of Naga contiguous areas as such a move would affect the present boundaries of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The centre has already enlisted the services of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convener of BJP-led NEDA, in the political consultation for ending the Naga political issue.
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