Manipur Election 2022: Why are BJP workers burning PM Modi's effigies after tickets list

Anger is brewing in the Manipur BJP over tickets to Congress turncoats at the cost of the BJP workers ahead of the Assembly elections.

The resentment spilled onto the streets on Sunday as angry BJP workers burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the state unit president Sharda Devi. The protesting BJP workers also torched party flags and ransacked local offices and shouted slogans against the ruling party’s list of assembly poll candidates.

The protesters say that the BJP list featured defectors from Congress ignoring many loyalists.

Manipur polls will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3, with the counting of votes on March 10.

Security was beefed up at all BJP offices throughout the state following the violence which erupted after the candidate list was announced.

The BJP has decided to contest the assembly elections in Manipur on its own and has announced candidates for all 60 seats.

In 2017, the BJP had fallen short of the majority after winning 21 seats and formed the government with the help of smaller parties and independent MLAs. Congress had won 28 seats.

Later 10 Congress MLAs switched to the BJP to bulk up the party's numbers in the Assembly.

Several BJP leaders including those who were aspirants for party tickets but were left out to accommodate recent defectors also resigned from the primary membership of the party.

Angry workers at Sagolband, Kakching, Moirang, Keisamthong assembly constituencies burnt party flags, pamphlets, ransacked local offices, and shouted slogans to show their dissent.

ALSO WATCH: Elections 2022: what are the poll panel's conditions for allowing parties to use video vans