Trinamool makes a footprint in Manipur

Imphal: Trinamool Congress, a new entrant to politics in Manipur, put up an impressive performance by winning seven seats and will be the main opposition party in the 60-member state Assembly. TMC had fielded candidates in 47 seats and party chief Mamata Banerjee addressed a number of election rallies in the insurgency-infested state where Congress retained power for the third consecutive term winning 42 seats.[caption id=“attachment_236781” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Slowly making a pan-India presence. Firstpost”]  [/caption] The party opened its account in the state in February last year when its candidate K Sarat won the by-election to Konthoujam Assembly constituency in Manipur’s Imphal West district. TMC’s performance is considered impressive as BJP which has been fielding candidates in the assembly polls in the state since 1995 managed to win only in two seats even though its president Nitin Gadkari and a couple of other senior leaders campaigned there. Manipur unit of Nagaland-based party, Naga Peoples Front (NPF), which contested in 12 constituencies, won in four seats occupying the third position in the polls. The NCP, which was part of a five-party opposition alliance comprising Manipur Peoples Party, CPM, Janata Dal (U) and RJD, won only one seat. In 2007 polls, Congress had won 31 seats and had aligned with CPI (4) to form the government. PTI