In a statement, the NPP said its candidates were being intimidated and abused in a targeted manner by several militant outfits. It alleged that outfits such as the KNF-MC, KNF-Z, UKLF, KNA and HPC (D) had openly come out in a “blatant support” of its opponent candidates from the BJP and the Naga People’s Front (NPF).
The NPF is also part of the government, but all the three — BJP, NPP and NPF — are contesting separately in this election.
The BJP and NPF refuted the allegations.
The NPP alleged that in the Tipaimukh assembly constituency, the cadres of militant outfits HPC (D) were moving around with arms, intimidating voters and village chiefs to vote for BJP candidates. Underground group like the KNA and UKLF are also threatening its party workers and village chief to support BJP candidate, it alleged. At Tamenglong constituency, outfits under the SOO were campaigning for the NPF and BJP candidates, it claimed.
“If the ongoing situation is allowed to prevail … the electorates will fear and would not come out to vote, which will directly hamper the conduct of elections,” it said.
The party also sought “adequate security cover” to its candidates.
The NPP has declared a list of 43 candidates for the election to the 60-member assembly in Manipur. The NPP contested from nine seats in 2017 and won four.
Meanwhile, NPF president Awangbou Newmai said the allegations were “unfounded and uncalled for”. He told ET: “The NPP is resorting to propaganda and lies. We have entered politics here with an agenda to bring peace and prosperity, the NPP wants to grab power. In the last five years, it has caused troubles to the coalition government and betrayed the coalition.”
Vice president of BJP Manipur N Nimbus Singh said the party had nothing to do with militants. “Our government has acted in curbing militancy in the state,” he said.
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