Tangkhul Naga attire, dancers grace rallies as BJP, NPP face off in Manipur’s hill district

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma-led NPP has been a BJP ally in Manipur since 2017 polls. Now, the two parties are taking on each other as they hold rallies on the same day.

BJP supporters take selfies with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a public meeting at Mission ground in Alung Tang, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Ukhrul (Manipur): The Tangkhul Naga-dominated hill district of Ukhrul in Manipur turned into a sea of flags Monday as the National People’s Party, headed by Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, faced off against the BJP during poll campaigns in the district headquarters.

The two parties, which have been in an alliance since the last Assembly elections in 2017, are now fighting head-to-head. While the BJP has fielded candidates on all 60 seats in the state, the NPP is fighting it out on 38 seats.

The BJP rally saw the attendance of star campaigner and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. In his address, Gadkari focused on the road projects that the BJP government plans to implement in the state, a significant issue in the hill areas where road connectivity remains poor.

“NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure Development) is committed to developing roads…we have been giving the highest priority to road infrastructure,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NPP’s public meeting was led by Conrad Sangma and the Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh. Sangma in his address described the NPP as a party “born in the northeast” and “made of the northeast”.

“People are looking for alternatives. People are realising that there’s a weakening in the Congress and the infighting in BJP is too much, which is why there’s a natural political vacuum which comes up and that’s where NPP comes in,” he said.

Manipur will go to polls in two phases on 28 February and 5 March.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari waves to people during a public meeting at Mission ground, Alung Tang, in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addresses a gathering during a public meeting at Mission ground, Alung Tang, in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari being felicitated with a Tangkhul Naga headpiece at BJP rally in Ukhrul, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari delivers a speech at Mission ground, Alung Tang, at Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

BJP flags seen during the public meeting in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

BJP women party workers listen to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s speech at Mission ground, Alung Tang, in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Performers get ready for a Tangkhul Naga dance at Mission ground, Alung Tang, in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Local residents from Ukhrul perform a Tangkhul Naga dance during the public meeting at Mission ground, Alung Tang, in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Student volunteers clean the ground after the public rally | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma during a National People’s Party public meeting at Naga-dominated hill district of Ukhrul in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma addresses a National People’s Party meeting in Ukhrul, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma after lighting the lamp during NPP’s public meeting in Ukhrul, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma receives Manipur Deputy CM Y. Joykumar Singh before heading off for a rally in Ukhrul, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A man in traditional Naga attire during NPP’s meeting in Ukhrul, Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

National People’s Party public meeting at Naga-dominated hill district of Ukhrul in Manipur | Praveen Jain | ThePrint