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.
