Congress candidate wins Hiyanglam by poll
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal/Imphal, October 20 2014: Congress candidate E Dwijamani won the Hiyanglam by election, the result of which was declared today morning.

By election in the Assembly Constituency was necessitated by the demise of then sitting MLA M Kunjo, who passed away recently.

Dwijamani polled a total of 9008 votes which was 1829 more votes than his nearest rival Dr Yumnam Radheshyam Singh of the All India Trinamool Congress, who polled a total of 7179 votes.

Maibam Dhanabir, son of the late M Kunjo, who contested the election as a candidate of the BJP came third, polling a total of 6306 votes.

Two other candidates, Mayengbam Amutombi of the Manipur People's Party and Thokchom Laiba of the Manipur State Congress Party lost their deposits securing 615 and 93 votes respectively.

An elated Dwijamani poses with the victory sign after the result was declared

Out of the total number of 24492 voters including 12539 female voters, 23247 voters exercised their franchise rights.

Out of the total number of votes cast, 46 votes accounted for NOTA putting the total number of votes polled at 23201 .

The victory of the Congress candidate was sweeping with E Dwijamani leading in 20 polling stations, followed by Radheshyam of the Trinamool Congress at 10 polling stations and M Dhanabir of the BJP at 4 polling stations.

Interestingly, MPP candidate M Amutombi Singh could reach the three figure digit at only one polling station with 185 votes while the MSCP candidate was stuck at the single digit mark in all the 34 polling stations with nil in three polling stations.

With the Congress bagging the Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency its number of MLAs in the Assembly has now shot up to 48 in the House of 60.This means that the number of MLAs on the Opposition bench is a mere 12 .

At the election to the 10th State Assembly, the Congress did remarkably well to win 42 seats out of the 60.This figure rose to 47 after five MSCP MLAs joined the Congress enmasse some time back.

Returning Officer of the by election, SDO of Kakching, Th Charanjit announced the name of Dwijamani as the new MLA of the Constituency after the counting.

The certificates were also handed over to the newly elected MLA.

Significantly, Dwijamani arrived at the counting centre with only his supporters sans any other political leader of the ruling Congress.

Speaking to reporters, soon after his election, Dwijamani expressed his gratitude to the people of Hiyanglam and all Congress supporters for giving him one more opportunity to be the representative of Hiyanglam AC.

Dwijamani said that his victory is the testimony of how his works, when he was elected earlier, had registered in the minds of the people.

"The term is rather short and hence I may not be able to do much.

However I will give full attention to all the projects which I could not complete earlier as the MLA of the Constituency, in consultation with the public of Hiyanglam," he added.

On his plans for the Constituency, Dwijamani said that since there a number of lakes in the Constituency, due attention would be paid to promote environmental campaigns.

Rain harvesting works will also be taken up on the basis of sustainable development.

Such a measure will go a long way in helping the people during the lean season, he opined.

The newly elected MLA further said that he did not face much hurdle during the by poll.

Outlining the reasons, he said that it could be due to the fact that he had taken up a number of measures for the people of Hiyanglam when he was elected as the MLA of the Constituency earlier.

"There is also no question of anyone blanking out the prospect of the INC in the State," he added.