EMERGENCE OF REGIONAL POLITICAL PARTIES IN MANIPUR AFTER 2002: A STUDY

Abstract

In the electoral politics of Manipur, regional political parties have been playing a significant role through the formation of governments or through acting as the opposition party by raising political questions and demanding regional political aspirations. The genesis of regional political parties can be traced back to before Indian independence. The Nikhil Manipuri  Mahasabha was founded in 1934 with Maharaj Churachand Singh as president and Jananeta Hijam Erabot as vice president. The Mahasabha played an important role in realising democracy and attaining freedom from colonialism, which was eventually manifested in the form of the Independence of India from British colonialism. After Indian independence in 1947, regional political parties of Manipur, such as Manipur United Front (MUF), Manipur People’s Party (MPP), Manipur Hill Union (MHU), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), etc., were formed, which eventually came to power. Just after statehood, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) formed the government in 1972. Notably, Manipur Hill Union(MHU) formed the government with Yangmaso Shaiza as Chief Minister in 1974, and in the subsequent years, the regional political party, the so-called Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), formed the government with W. Nipamacha Singh as Chief Minister. But after the MSCP coalition government was formed, no regional political party could form the government in the subsequent years. Thus, there has been a rise and the submergence of regional political parties. It rose when people offended National Political Parties on account of their inability to materialise regional political aspirations, and the submergence of regional political parties happened when parties failed to uphold the state people’s political aspirations. Ultimately, a resurgence of regional political parties of Manipur is being witnessed, especially after the outbreak of ethnic conflict in Manipur on 3^rd May, 2023.