BJP not to project Manipur CM face for now

GUWAHATI: While the ruling Congress is preparing for the Manipur polls under the leadership of three-time chief minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, the BJP has decided not to project any chief ministerial candidate for the assembly polls slated for March.

A senior BJP leader told ET, “The party will not project any chief ministerial face before the election. We will settle the chief ministerial issue only after results are announced.” Since the BJP in Manipur is hit by factionalism, “declaring a chief ministerial candidate will jeopardise the party’s preparation for there exists a couple of different camps within the party,” said a BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

Chaoba Singh, convenor of the election management committee, who was earlier the state unit president and who built the BJP’s organisational base, and Bhabananda Singh, who is currently chief of the state BJP, are prominent faces. The party has finalised the names of candidates for 31 constituencies for the twophase polls to be held on March 4 and 8.

BJP has the advantage of having several former Congress heavyweights including Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president and spokesperson, Nongthombam Biren Singh, former minister Yumkham Erabot Singh and a couple of others, who had joined the saffron party over the past few months.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old Congress government is facing an anti-incumbency wave.