Manipur minister Letpao Haokip joins BJP

Synopsis: Ahead of Manipur assembly polls, Manipur Sports Minister and National People’s Party leader Letpao Haokip joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Ahead of Manipur assembly polls, Manipur Sports Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) leader Letpao Haokip joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

NPP is an ally of BJP in Manipur and supporting the government. Haokip joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.


Haokip was elected from Chandel assembly constituency in 2017. He is likely to change the seat and contest from Tengnoupal assembly constituency in next year’s assembly polls.

In Meghalaya NPP is leading the six party led coalition government which is supported by BJP.

Haokip said, “I have joined BJP as under the leadership of Prime minister Narendra Modi development can be brought in Manipur and Northeast India. Prime minister and Union Home minister Amit Shah gives priority to Northeast India".

Manipur's Power minister Th Biswajit tweeted, "I wholeheartedly welcome Shri @LetpaoHaokip ji to the BJP family. With Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's guidance, BJP will continue to work in the direction of progress and reforms. Congratulations and best wishes to him for his fruitful journey ahead.”

NPP and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said that the party has finalized 30 plus candidates for Manipur assembly polls.

The 60 member Manipur assembly is slated to go to assembly polls early next year. Sangma said, “We have finalized 30 plus candidates. As the situation goes you will see 40 plus candidates will come. An election committee is set up. As the election comes we are expecting more candidates to join us.”

The NPP has hinted that it will contest the election on its own. The NPP contested nine seats in 2017.

In 2017 assembly polls Congress emerged as the single largest party with 28 MLAs, Manipur assembly is 60-member assembly. Later around eight Congress MLAs left the party. BJP won 21 seats.

BJP got support from NPP and Naga Peoples Front (NPF) which won four seats each. One MLA each from Trinamool congress, Lok Jan Shakti party and lone independent member supported the government.