Once a force to reckon with in Manipur politics, the CPI and CPI(M) are fighting the Assembly election to regain their lost ground in the State.
Manipur has a long history of left movement, under the leadership of legendary left leader like Hijam Irabot Singh commonly known as “jana neta Hijam” but this time the left parties are fighting hard to make their presence felt in the State.
The on-going insurgency and ethnic driven conflict seems to have taken a heavy toll on the communist parties of Manipur, which believe in the ideology of class struggle. The CPI, CPI(M) along with other secular and like minded parties have formed a front called left and Democratic Front (lDF). It also has an electoral adjustment with National People’s Party. Altogether they are fighting in 50 seats in the 60-member Manipur Assembly.