BJP wrests Manipur's valley, marginally improves its tally in hills

In Manipur’s valley ruling BJP wrested 26 seats out of 40 seats, in hills BJP could just add one more seat to its earlier tally of five seats. BJP was expecting to win at least 10 seats out of the 20 seats of hills.

In 2017 BJP had won 21 seats and in this election BJP on its own crossed the majority figure and won 32 seats in the 60-member assembly.

Hills have been a Congress party's stronghold and in 2017 Congress won nine seats, however in this election Congress could not win a single seat. Naga People’s Front (NPF) which had won four seats increased its tally to five seats in hills.


Debutant Kuki Peoples Alliance won two seats. Rest of the seats were won by National People’s Party (NPP), Janata Dal (United) and independents.

BJP was banking on development measures it has initiated to garner wrest valley and hills. The BJP led government in 2017 promised to cement the divide and Chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh launched “go to hills” and “go to villages” to expedite development measures.

The hills that account for 90 percent of the state's area and 10 percent population, while the Valley with just 10percent land, is home to almost 60 percent of the people. Out of the 60 seats, the valley accounts for 40 assembly seats.

In the valley there are Hindu, non-tribal Meitei communities while in the hills are inhabited by the largely Christian Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities.