Voters' Speak : Massive Mandate, Cong wins 42, MPP None; History scripted
Cong gets set for innings number III, State Assembly to have three women MLAs at a time
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2012: If Manipur set a record of the dubious type in witnessing five polling stations going in for a second repoll, then the result for the election to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly has also followed suit, with the Congress winning 42 seats out of the 60 seats it contested while one time regional political party heavy weight, the Manipur People's Party and the CPI failed to open their account.

Apart from this, the State Legislative Assembly will see three women legislators at the same time, the winners being, O Landhoni of the INC from Khangabok Assembly Constituency, Akoijam Mirabai of the INC from Patsoi Assembly Constituency and Mrs Nemcha Kipgen of the MSCP from Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency.

The CPI, which was with the Congress in the SPF coalition in the last two Assembly also failed to open its account.

Agriculture Minister in the last Assembly Ph Parijat led the way, losing the Lamlai seat to INC's Ksh Biren.

N Mangi also lost the Kumbi seat to Sanasam Bira of the INC.

Senior leader and presently secretary of the CPI, Manipur unit, Dr Nara was nowhere in the contest at Wangjing Tentha Assembly Constituency which went to Paonam Brojen of the MSCP.

The Manipur People's Party, one of the oldest regional political parties in the country had to face the ignominy of failing to send any of its candidates to the Assembly.

WINNERS TAKE ALL : Chief Minister O Ibobi with his better half O Landhoni, Y Erabot with his supporters and Kh Joykishan after winning the Thangmeiband AC

The MPP contested in 14 Assembly segments and all its heavy weights including the vocal O Joy lost the Langthabal seat to Karam Shyam of the Lok Jan Shakti Party by 1035 votes.

Dr Nimaichand Luwang, president of the MPP was also defeated for the second consecutive time by Keisham Meghachandra Singh of the INC at Wangkhem AC by 2956 votes.

Former Union Minister of State Th Chaoba also bit the dust losing to N Loken of the INC by 806 votes at Nambol Assembly Constituency.

Former Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition in the 9th Assembly Radhabinod Koijam was among the heavy weights to bite the dust coming a distant third at Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency which was won by Kh Joykishan of the Trinamool Congress.

The NCP which had four MLAs in the last Assembly managed to send only one MLA, with Laishom Ibomcha wresting the Keishamthong Assembly Constituency from Langpoklakpam Jayenta of the INC.

Altogether 24 sitting MLAs lost in the election.

The prominent sitting MLAs who lost included, O Joy of the MPP, Radhabinod Koijam of the NCP, Bijoy Koijam of the INC (Thongju AC), Ph Parijat of the CPI, Salam Joy of the NCP (Wangoi AC), N Mangi of the CPI, DD Thaisii of the INC (Karong AC) etal.

As expected, the Trinamool Congress performed commendably with 7 out of the 47 candidates it had fielded winning at the hustings.

Map

The successful Trinamool Congress candidates include, Kh Joykishan (Thangmeiband AC), Th Shyamkumar (Andro AC), Konthoujam Sharat (Konthoujam AC), I Ibohalbi Singh (Oinam AC), Th Biswajit Singh (Thongju AC), Oinam Lukhoi Singh (Wangoi AC) and M Kunjo (Hiyanglam AC) .

The Manipur State Congress Party notched up wins in five Assembly segments, making it the third largest party in the 60 member Assembly.

The successful MSCP candidates include, Mrs Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi AC), Karam Thamarjit (Keirao AC), RK Imo (Sagolband AC), Janghemlung Panmei (Tamenglong AC) and Paonam Brojen (Wangjing-Tentha AC) .

The Naga People's Front, which fielded candidates in 12 Assembly Constituencies in its debut in the electoral arena of Manipur, did commendably well, with four of its candidates emerging victorious.

The successful NPF candidates include, Samuel Risom (Ukhrul AC), Dr Alexander Pao (Karong AC), Dikho (Mao AC) and St Nunghlung Victor (Chandel AC) .

With some political heavy weights biting the dust, the Congress juggernaut continued, with the prominent leaders getting re-elected including, the Chief Minister O Ibobi (Thoubal AC), Works Minister K Ranjit (Sugnu AC), IFCD Minister N Biren (Heingang AC), MPCC (I) chief Gaikhangam (Nungba AC), Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing (CCpur AC), Industry Minister Y Erabot etal.

Interestingly, the Lok Jan Shakti Party has made its debut in the Assembly with its candidate, Karam Shyam unseating O Joy of the MPP at Langthabal AC .