Ahead of ballot counting for Manipur polls on March 10, political parties are putting candidates under watchful eyes

Senior political leaders of different political parties have rushed to the state or are camping there to thwart the move of poaching from rival camps.

Like Goa Congress party in Manipur in the run up to polls administered loyalty pledge to its candidates for assembly polls. Congress party though emerged as the single largest party in 2017 assembly polls was ravaged by a series of desertions. Candidates were taken to temple, mosque, church and historic Kangla Fort.

BJP in the run up to polls had worked out an informal agreement of cooperation with its members dithering them from switching sides.

A senior Congress leader who does not want to be named told ET, “We have assembled in a place with our candidates and after discussion we will not move to respective places.”

A Janata Dal (United) leader said, “Our leaders are here however we are not fearing poaching and are very confident of our candidates. We are sure that our candidates will not switch sides.”

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 National People’s Party (NPP) and Naga People’s Front (NPF) which won four seats each. One MLA each from Trinamool congress, Lok Jan Shakti party and lone independent member supported the government.

However, in these polls allies are fighting against each other. BJP, NPP and the NPF are contesting separately and put-up candidates against each other.

Congress formed a Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) after forging a pre-poll alliance with four Left parties and Janata Dal-Secular. Congress is contesting 54 seats while its allies six seats.

In Assam polls last year, the Opposition Congress in Assam assembled its candidates in a resort in the vicinity of Guwahati.

Congress party’s ally in the election All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had shifted its candidates to Rajasthan. Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) had shifted its candidates from Assam anticipating poaching by rival camps.