The first phase of the Assembly election in Manipur on February 28 will see the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress vie for their most fertile seats across three Imphal Valley and three hill districts.
The BJP had won 18 and the Congress 16 of the 38 constituencies going to the polls in the first phase. Manipur has a total of 60 seats.
The BJP has been upbeat about retaining power but it faces more than just old rival Congress. Ally-turned-foe National People’s Party (NPP) headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has turned out to be a major challenger this time.