Manipur Assembly elections 2017: All you need to know

Imphal: The polling to elect 60 members of Manipur Legislative Assembly election, 2017 will be held on March 4 and 8 as the term of current Legislative Assembly ends on 18 March 2017.

In the last held election in 2012, the Congress won 42 seats and incumbent Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was re-elected. In 2014, the Manipur State Congress Party, with its five Members of Legislative Assembly, joined the ruling Congress.

According to a media report, the state has a total 18,07,843 people listed as voters. 

Manipur is an insurgency prone state where law and order has always been an issue. It is one of few states in India where AFSPA has been enforced to keep insurgent groups under check.

67 years ago, on September 21, 1949, Manipur became a part of India. After Independence, only Manipur and Tripura were princely states and later, they became a part of India after the British rule.

Maharaja Budhachandra signed a Treaty of Accession which granted the merger of Manipur with India. Being one of the important areas in South-East Asia, there are many disputes which are going on related to Manipur and the bordering countries.

Ancient Manipur dates back to 50 BC. At the time, Manipur included the areas of Nagaland, Assam as well as Mizoram.

Nongthou Kangba was the first ruler of Manipur who started his reign in 33 AD

Manipur played a major role in WW II. Japanese army invaded British India via Manipur, where British forces beat Japan before they could enter Imphal.

Manipur became part of India in 1949 and in 1956 it became a Union Territory, whereas 16 years later, Manipur became a state of India.

Manipur is known by various names like Kangleipak, Sanaleibak and Meeteileipak.

Manipur borders with 3 states – Nagaland in north, Mizoram in the southwest, Assam in the north-west. It also shares an international boundary with Myanmar in the east.

The sports Polo originated in Manipur. this game was later adopted by the Britishers and hence it gained popularity in the west.

Handloom weaving and sericulture are two marketing sectors that provide mass employment to the locals of Manipur.

Manipur was called as Jewel of India by Jawaharlal Nehru.