Imphal, Jan 7: The 2017 Manipur polls saw intense political drama that saw Congress emerge as the single largest party by winning 28 seats in the 60 member Assembly, yet BJP that won 21 seats managed to cobble up a post-poll alliance with smaller player like the NPP, NPF, LJP, Independent and even poach a Congress MLA to form the government.

Since then the BJP has grown in strength in Manipur at the expense of the Congress. Post polls, 13 Congress MLAs switched over to BJP.

By the looks of it, BJP looks way ahead of other parties. But Manipur politics has always been complex and that gives the opponent an outside chance to topple BJP’s apple cart.

But all is not rosy in BJP camp as ambitions always run high in politics. Congress veteran turned BJP’s face, Chief Minister Nongthongbam Biren Singh has been able to steer a clumsy alliance for 5 years with a strong lobby inside the party in Manipur pushing BJP central leadership more than once for leadership change. But Cabinet Minister Biswajit Singh is a strong contender for his post. So one has to watch out if Biren Singh is named as the CM candidate or not. Although, his tenure has ensured no major blockades, and there have been efforts to bridge the divide between the hills and the valley areas of Manipur and sustained peace have been his success.

Outside the party, he has reasons to worry as Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma led National People’s Party (NPP) and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) – a party from Nagaland that has spread its wings to Manipur – two key allies of the BJP led Manipur government, are going solo into the polls.

Congress is down but still not out with the veterans like 73-years-old former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh still holding the baton.

Congress is going to make repeal of AFSPA as one of its key poll planks but there is a clear absence of vibrant and energetic young leaders in the party.

For the Election Commission, keeping Manipur polls free from Covid and insurgent attacks is the biggest challenge.