JD(U) hits a six, makes Manipur comeback after 20 long years

IMPHAL: Labelled by rivals as BJP’s B-team throughout the campaign period, JD(U) has made a dramatic comeback after 20 years by winning six seats in Manipur, making the Bihar party the second-largest in the northeastern state, behind BJP and ahead of Congress.

JD(U) debuted in the Manipur election in 2000. It fielded 18 candidates and won one seat. In the election two years later, the party fielded seven candidates but failed to win any seat. It drew blanks in 2007 and 2012 and did not contest in 2017. This time, the party fielded 38 candidates, its most in the Manipur assembly election. “This is a great comeback. We were hoping for this and the results have come on expected lines,” said JD(U) national general secretary in charge of the northeast

Afaque Ahmed Khan

.

“Our manifesto and the clean image of the party’s leadership helped us win the trust of voters in Manipur,” he said. The party was also able to attract defectors from BJP, its big brother in the NDA, and from Congress in Manipur. Khan said JD(U)’s next stops would be

Meghalaya

and Nagaland, which will go to polls next year.