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Features >> March 12

Manipur State Assembly Election, 2002.
By Dr. Konsam Ibo Singh 

Even though the Bharatiya Janata Party which won only 6 seats in the elections held in February 2000, its strength was increased to 26 with 20 others crossing from other political parties over to BJP. BJP became the single largest party. As a result it wanted a ministry led by its leader R.K. Dorendro Singh. This meant Koijam Radhabinod (the writer chooses the normal practice of writing surname first and the name second) to step down in favor of BJP, which was not acceptable. Even with the intervention of BJP leader, L.K. Advani, Union Home Minister and Samata party leader George Fernandes, NDA Convener failed to resolve the crisis. Even the rotation of Chief Ministership between BJP and Samata Party, the two important constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Center was found to be unacceptable to the Manipur BJP. When BJP voted in favor of a no-confidence motion against Radhabinod ministry, it was passed and his ministry fell. When other options to form the ministry were exhausted Manipur was brought under President's rule on 3 June 2001. 

When the announcement was made to hold the elections, in two phases, on February 14 and 21, 368 candidates remained in the fray with a break-up of 244 candidates for the plains (first phase) and 124 candidates for the hills (second phase). This figure is exclusive of 20 withdrawn and 2 rejected candidates. (See table below) 

TABLE: I

Party wise Break-up of Contesting Candidates
For Manipur State Legislature Assembly Election, 2002

Sl. No.

Name of the Party

 No. of Contesting Candidates

Total

1st Phase Feb 14, 2002

1st Phase Feb 21, 2002
1 Indian National Congress (INC) 40 18 58
2 Federal Party of Manipur (FPM) 33 15 48
3 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 26 20 46
4 Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) 33 09 42
5 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 18 15 33
6 Samata Party (SAP) 16 15 31
7 Manipur National Conference (MNC) 17 06 23
8 Democratic People's Party (DPP) 21 02 23
9 Communist Party of India (CPI) 16 0 16
10 Manipur People's Party (MPP) 12 02 14
11 Janata Dal (United), JD (U) 05 02 07
12 Naga National Party (NNP) 0 05 05
13 Communist Party of India (Marxist), (CPM) 01 0 01
14 Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) (R) 01 0 01
15 Lok Shakti (LS) 0 03 03
16 Independents (IND) 05 12 17

        GRAND TOTAL

 244 124 368

As the table shows, 15 political parties including 3 new regional parties, yet to be recognized by the Election Commission of India (EC) - (i) Democratic People's Party (DPP), Manipur National Conference (MNC), and Naga National Party (NNLP) contested the elections. 

While contesting the elections the political parties, as usual, issued their manifestoes. Dr Manmohan Singh, leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in the Rajya Sabha released its manifesto on January 22, 2002. His party - the Indian National Congress (INC) pledged for (i) restoration of peace and order; (ii) measures to limit overdraft; (iii) infrastructure improvement; (iv) reduction of disparity between the plains and the hills; (v) measures to end corruption; (vi) measures to bring development at the grassroot level through democracy; (vii) provision for security along the National Highways; (viii) conversion of Manipur University into a Central University etc. etc. if the party comes to power in Manipur and the Center . Thounaojam Chaoba released the MSCP manifesto which stressed for the preservation of territorial integrity, peaceful co-existence while the BJP assured for improvement in the economic condition of the people, timely disbursement of money to the state, good governance, solution to the power problem, transparency in financial matters, no partiality in dealing with underground organization, condemnation of human rights violations and the removal of Assam Rifles from Kangla (a long standing demand despite promises made by several central leaders ) . The NCP attached much more importance to the improvement in the financial health of the state and also an economic package from the center. Horticulture, agriculture and animal husbandry were also its priority areas. Almost all the political parties pledged for the protection of territorial integrity. The DPP stressed for human rights while the NNP called for " emotional integration of the Nagas ". 

The campaign for the elections were started late and also in a dull atmosphere. Many organizations placed restriction on setting up ' camps ', use of intoxicants, distribution of money, opening of shades, financial assistance for pilgrimage, picnics, of road repairing near the elections, meeting after 7 p.m. etc, etc. which were usual practices in the past. In substance the idea behind was that election should be less expensive. The second was the acts of violence seen at many places. Residence of politicians were fired at, attempted to set fire on, explosives were thrown. At least one underground organization warned volunteers not to associate with a particular candidate. There were also accusations that candidates were forced to withdraw their nominations, e.g. the INC candidates for Chandel and Tengnoupal constituencies. 

Another special feature was the initiative taken by some tribal leaders for the ' Naga Cause '. First, was the launching of a new party - the Naga National Party that put up 6 candidates for the first time at Chandel (Kopu Chandramani), Phungyar (Ngathinkhi Hungyo), Mao (Loli Lohe), Tadubi (P. Daniel) and Kangpokpi (L.S. John). Later 5 remained in the fray as one of them withdrew from the race. Another serious act was the alleged summoning of some candidates to Senapati and the reportedly forcible signing of an undertaking to work for the Nagas in case they win the election .The last special feature was the introduction of electronic voting machines at 6 constituencies (Keishamthong, Khurai, Sagolband, Wangkhei andYaiskul). 

In all, election related violence took 6 lives including 3 personnel engaged for election duties. In some areas, repolls were ordered and with heavy security the same were held.

TABLE: II

List of Members Elected to The Eighth Manipur State Legislative Assembly

Sl.
No

Name of The Constituency (In Alphabetical Order)

Name of The Member

Party Affiliation

1

ANDRO

SALAM CHANDRA

FPM

2.

BISHENPUR

KONTHOUJAM GOVINDAS SINGH

MSCP

3.

CHANDEL

B.D.BEHRING

BJP

4

CHINGAI

A.AJA

INC

5

CHURACHANDPUR

PHUNGJATHANG TONSING

INC

6

HEINGANG

NONGTHOMBAM BIREN

DPP

7

HEIROK

NONGMEIRAKPAM SOVAKIRAN

FPM

8

HENGLEP

MANGA VAIPHEI

SAMATA

9

HIYANGLAM

ELANGBAM BIRMANI DNGH

NCP

10

JIRIBAM

TH.DEBENDRA

INC

11

KAKCHING

THOKCHOM TOMBA

CPI

12

KANGPOKPI

THANGMINGLEN KIPGEN

FPM

13

KARONG

P.S.HENRY

FPM

14

KEIRAO

MD. ALLAUDDIN KHAN

INC

15

KEISHAMTHONG

LAISOM IBOMCHA SINGH

FPM

16

KHANGAPOK

OKRAM IBOBI SINGH

INC

17

KHUNDRAKPAM

LAIRENLAKPAM LALA

SAP

18

KHURAI

NINGHOUJAM BIHARI SINGH

FPM

19

KONTHOUJAM

DR.THOKCHOM MEINYA

DPP

20

KSHETRIGAO

WANKHEM VIVEKRAJ

MSCP

21

KUMBI

NINGTHOUJAM MANGI

CPI

22

LAMLAI

PHEIROIJAM PARIJAT

CPI

23

LAMSANG

WANGKHEIRAKPAM BRAJABIDHU

 

24

LANGTHABAL

OKRAM JOY SINGH

MPP

25

LILONG

DR.MD.MANIRUDDIN

INC

26    

MAO

R.K.THEKO

INC

27

MAYANG IMPHAL

MAINAM NILACHANDRA SINGH

FPM

28

MOIRANG

SALAM GOPAL SINGH

FPM

29

NAMBOL

NAMEIRAKPAM LOKEN SINGH

INC

30

NAORIYA PAKHANGLAKPA

MRS WAHENGBAM LEIMA DEVI

INC

31

NUNGBA

GAIKHANGAM

INC

32

OINAM

LAISHRAM RADHAKISHORE SINGH

NCP

33

PATSOI

MIORANGTHEM NABADWIP

CPI

34

PHUNGYAR

WUNGNAOSHANG KEISHING

MSCP

35

SAGOLBAND

SORAM NATUM SINGH

MNC

36

SAIKOT

T.N.HAOKIP

INC

37

SAIKUL

CHNGKHOIKAI DOUNGEL

NCP

38

SAITU

NGMTHANG HAOKIP

INC

39

SEKMAI

NINGTHOUJAM BIREN

FPM

40

SINGHAT

TAISO BAITE

MSCP

41

SINGJAMEI

IRENGBAM HEMOCHANDRA SINGH

FPM

42

SUGNU

KANGUJAM RANJIT

INC

43

TADUBI

FRANCIS NGAJOKPA

INC

44

TAMEI

Z.MAGAIBU

INC

45

TAMENGLONG

SAMUEL JENDAI

FPM

46

TENGNOUPAL

D.KURUNTHANG