Names 31 candidates; 2 Cong MLAs, state vice-president resign
New Delhi/Imphal: BJP on Monday released its first list of 31 candidates for Manipur Assembly elections, which are scheduled to take place in March this year.
Out of the 31 names, the party has announced 20 candidates for first phase of elections, to be held on March 4, and remaining 11 are for second phase on March 8.
The names of the candidates were finalised in a meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee, chaired by its President Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other members.
The elections for the 60-member Manipur assembly will held in two phases, on March 4 and on March 8.
BJP is in direct fight with the Congress in the state but is unlikely to project any chief ministerial candidate.
Formation of new districts in the state, about 80 days old economic blockade by the United Naga Council (UNC) on National Highway and territorial integrity of the state in view of the ongoing talks between the Centre and insurgent naga group NSCN (IM) are the issues which will dominate the election.
Meanwhile, in a jolt to the ruling Congress in Manipur ahead of assembly elections in March, its state Vice- president and two MLAs on Monday resigned from the party’s primary membership.
Legislators Nemcha Kipgen and Vungzagin Valte submitted their resignation letters to party President TN Haokip as well as to Speaker Th Lokeshwor, they said.
With the resignation, the strength of Congress has gone down to 45 seats in the 60-member House.
Kipgen had been elected in the last assembly polls from Kangpokpi constituency which had recently been upgraded into Kangpokpi district.
Valte was elected from Thanlon assembly constituency.
Vice-president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) S Achouba also resigned from the primary membership of the party.
Incidentally, the state’s move to carve out seven new districts has triggered protests by Manipur’s apex Naga organisation United Naga Council (UNC).
Last year, three veteran Congress heavyweights N Biren, Y Erabot and Francis Ngajokpa had resigned and joined the BJP.
Elections for the 60-member Manipur Assembly will be held in two phases, on March 4 and March 8. BJP, which is in direct fight with the Congress in the state, is unlikely to project any chief ministerial candidate. (PTI)