Manipur smaller parties fight for attention after BJP’s clear majority 

These parties have underlined their National Democratic Alliance and North East Democratic Alliance link with the saffron party

The smaller parties in Manipur are virtually engaged in a race for attention after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) notched up a clear majority in the just-concluded Assembly election.

—The BJP won 32 seats in the 60-member House and two independent candidates – media baron Sapam Nishikant who won the Keishamthong seat and Haokholet Kipgen (Saitu seat) — have formally pledged support.

The parties fighting to be the “best friends” of the BJP are the National People’s Party (NPP) with seven seats, the Janata Dal (United) with six and the Naga People’s Front (NPF) with five.

The newly-floated Kuki People’s Alliance that won two seats has not made its intention clear yet. Neither has another independent winner, J. Kumo Sha.

The Congress won the remaining five seats.

The NPP, the JD(U) and the NPF have underlined their National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) link to be counted as the BJP’s allies.

The JD(U) and the BJP are partners at the Centre and in Bihar while the NPP and the NPF are members of the NDA as well as anti-Congress NEDA that the BJP has been helming since 2016.