The ruling BJP in Manipur is going all out to seek the suggestions of voters, from installing public aspiration boxes to plying aspiration vans touching all 60 constituencies, to prepare a people’s manifesto for the upcoming Assembly polls likely to be held in March.
While Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh rolled out the suggestion/aspiration box campaign on December 8, party’s national president J.P. Nadda launched the 60 aspirational mobile vans on December 24. The van will not only showcase the achievements of the BJP-led government but also collect people’s feedback to be incorporated the manifesto to be released after announcement of the polls schedule.
At least three to four aspiration/suggestion boxes are being placed at strategic points in all the 60 Assembly constituencies, it has also made arrangement for the voters to share their aspirations/suggestions through email at MIYAMGIASHA2022@gmail.com for the overall development of the state.
Both Biren Singh and state BJP president A. Sharda Devi are trying to send a “message” through the party and the government’s outreach programmes that “it is a people’s government and will remain so”.
M. Asnikumar Singh, state BJP spokesperson and saha pramukh manifesto committee, told The Telegraph that the state unit has already installed public aspiration boxes in different key public places such as main market places, key educational institutes and district headquarters.
“These boxes will be installed in all 60 Assembly constituencies to assess the public’s aspirations for the next term. Their feedback will be incorporated to make a public manifesto this time. Besides the aspiration boxes, 60 public aspiration collection vans have also been launched. BJP’s manifesto will be a bonafide People’s Manifesto as we are consulting all sections of society,” Asnikumar Singh said.
Last week members of the manifesto committee, among others, interacted leaders of the fishing community at Karang Island, Loktak Lake.
Political observers said the BJP has since 2014 laid stress on seeking people’s views for its manifesto because it has been “paying” dividends. Such outreach not only makes the voters feel “wanted” but also help carry low-intensity campaign, they added.
“The party is inatalling aspirational boxes in poll-bound UP too. It had rolled out aspirational vans with audio-video facilities before this year’s Assam polls which it won convincingly,” one of them said.
Another recalled how the Manipur BJP unit had before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections had organised a bike rally to seek public feedback in four valley districts. “But this time it is more focussed and sustained and cover the entire state,” the observer said.
The Opposition Congress, however, dismissed this manifesto outreach as a “political” gimmick and asked whether they ruling party could win 15 seats this time.
The ruling BJP has set its sight on winning at least 40 seats so that it can function freely from the pull and pressure of a coalition government.
In 2017, it managed to form the government with help of National People’s Party and Naga People’s Front, among others, but faced a tough time keeping afloat the ruling coalition last year. The BJP had won 21 seats while the Congress 28 in 2017.
Asserting how things have changed for the better under the incumbent BJP-led government, Asnikumar Singh said, “The earlier days of uncertainty and unrest are long gone. Now, an era of peace, stability, progress and all inclusive development has arrived under the BJP govt in the state. We also have strong convictions that the people of Manipur will repay BJP with a thumping majority in the upcoming polls. ”
Manipur PCC general secretary (organisation) Loitongbam Tilotama told this newspaper that they have not installed aspirational boxes like the BJP but have already met and interacted with the voters to know what they want.
“After all, a manifesto is prepared keeping in mind the interest of the people. The BJP’s outreach is nothing but a political gimmick. We have done our analysis and we don’t see the BJP winning even 15 seats,” she said.