Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 04 2009:
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a National party which has three MLAs in the State Assembly, has decided not to field any of its candidate but to support the candidate of the Congress party for the seat of the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha election which is likely to be held in April/May.
After a detailed discussion on whether RJD should contest in the election or nor, the decision to support the Congress party was arrived at during a general body meeting of the RJD held at its Babupara office with party president Md Hellaluddin Khan in the chair today.
Party MLAs Vursanglung and Thangkholun Haokip were, however, not present during the meeting.
In the meeting, some of the party leaders and workers strong favour for RJD to contest in the Lok Sabha election as it is the norm of political parties to contest in every election whatever be the outcome.
However, the party president reminded them of the instruction of the party's high command that RJD should not contest in the election from the Constituency which has already a sitting MLA/MP of Congress party.
Subsequently, it was decided that instead of fielding its own candidate, RJD would extend support to the Congress candidate for the Inner seat.
As for contesting for the Outer seat, the meeting resolved to take a final decision only after referring the matter to an assessment committee and examining its report.