A new year always brings hope for a new beginning and for wishes to come true. However, the general public is confounded with what to wish for as the general elections looms large with a flurry of unprecedented political activity quite unseen in the past and the advent of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron in the state.
One thing is sure, the 2022 assembly elections would be unlike previous elections with the BJP and its allies fighting each other to the hilt and the opposition Congress playing a minor role in some assembly constituencies and, of course, violence is in the offing if one goes by the incidents at Heirok assembly constituency and others. As inherited from the year 2021, the BJP has become the party of choice for many candidates.
With Narendra Modi and BJP safely ensconced in the PM chair for some years to come without a creditable opposition alliance in the near future, many intending candidates are vying for the BJP ticket only and it is considered a sure shot if one gets the BJP ticket. Previously, it was the Congress ticket most candidates were after while seeking entry into politics. But now, it is the BJP ticket which is most sought after while the Congress and other parties are waiting in the wings to pounce upon the likely winners who were rejected by the BJP.
No party is expected to announce its list of candidates till the BJP lists come out and the ultimate BJP list will also decide the future of other candidates in the fray. While some among the intending candidates of the BJP may surrender to the choice of the party, some of the rejected would either choose another party’s ticket to contest or support the most viable challenger of the BJP candidate. The most important question now is whether the BJP is going to announce a CM face for the 2022 elections?
On the other hand, the hangover of the proposed ADC still remains in the bucket. As BJP’s ally Naga Peoples Front (NPF) seeks to consolidate Naga votes it has upped the ante of tribal rights and demand for more autonomy for the tribal regions while also dividing the non-Naga votes on party lines. It is well known that both NPF and NPP are seeking to up its numbers in the state assembly in order to create more bargaining space and this is causing a headache in choosing the right candidate for the BJP ticket.
Perhaps, that must be why top BJP leaders are landing in Imphal so often and disturbing the traffic. Now, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the state on January 4 before assembly elections are announced by the Election Commission of India and he is expected to announce a few sops for the state besides inaugurating a number of projects as prepared by the state government.
Some of the symbolic projects are the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple complex makeover, the tallest flag-post at Moirang dedicated to INA and the Civil Secretariat complex, besides addressing a public gathering at Hafta Kangjeibung in Palace Compound. Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Authority has issued the order for banning public gatherings like picnics, feasts, thabal chongba and other events besides imposing night curfew from 9 pm to 4 am in view of the detection of Omicron variant of Covid 19 in the state.
But, all efforts of the state are now directed at receiving the Prime Minister. Even if Hapta Kangjeibung is an open space, thousands are expected to attend the PM’s rally as ruling MLAs and intending candidates are going to compete to bring in more and more supporters. Many have questioned the wisdom of holding such a big rally in view of the Omicron threat. But who is listening?
