BJP’s Success in North-East India Hindered by Ethnic Tensions in Manipur and Tripura

The BJP’s plan to expand its electoral base in the Northeastern region ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls may be threatened by internal conflicts within the party and ongoing ethnic troubles in Manipur and Tripura. The party had managed to attain some electoral advantage in the region but has witnessed disputes and differences of opinion among its MLAs in Manipur and Tripura. Ethnic violence that has claimed over 120 lives, injured over 400 people of different communities and displaced over 65,000 people, may also affect the BJP’s electoral prospects in Manipur. A section of BJP leaders and MLAs have been demanding the replacement of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh due to his efforts to curb the drug menace, illegal trade in drugs from Myanmar, illicit poppy cultivation, and infiltration from across the border. In Tripura, political pundits observed open differences among former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik, Chief Minister Manik Saha, and others. The regional parties, including the All India United Democratic Front in Assam and the Tipra Motha Party in Tripura, may play a significant role in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as they have a strong base in their respective areas. Their emergence as principal opposition buildings may pose a challenge to the BJP and Congress. To further strengthen its position, the BJP held a crucial meeting in Guwahati in the first week of April to chalk out strategies to win all 25 parliamentary seats in the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim. The upcoming elections will determine the BJP’s stance in the region, and the party will have to work to resolve any internal conflicts to secure its position.