Unable to put up candidates in all 144 seats; MPCC names 130 Cong names
3 women for ADC polls
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 04 2015 : Indian National Congress (INC) which won majority of the seats in all the six ADCs in the previous election apart from being the State's ruling party is unable to field its candidates in all the 144 District Council Constituencies (DDCs) .

After taking due approval of the AICC, MPCC president Gaikhangam today announced the names of 130 candidates including three women at Congress Bhavan here today.

INC has fielded their candidates in 22 DCCs out of total 24 DCCs in Chandel ADC.

In the remaining two seats, Congress is supporting independent candidates.

Likewise, the ruling party is supporting independent candidates in four seats while their own candidates are contesting in 20 seats.

Whereas INC has put up their candidates in all DCCs of Ukhrul, Sadar Hills and Churachandpur ADCs, the party is contesting in only 16 seats of Senapati ADC.

Unable to put up candidates in all 144 seats MPCC names 130 Cong names 3 women for ADC polls

The three women candidates are contesting in Sadar Hills, Tamenglong and Ukhrul ADCs.

Gaikhangam stated that the names of the 130 candidates were announced with due approval of the AICC out of 215 aspiring candidates who applied for party tickets.

People applied for party tickets against all the DCCs of Senapati ADC but some of them have been denied tickets in view of the enormous risk they have to face.

They have been denied tickets with the conviction that life is paramount and elections can be fought later, Gaikhangam said.

However, the 16 people who have been given party tickets insisted that they would fight the election no matter how grave the threats are.

Calling upon one and all to let the electorate vote for candidates of their own choice in a free and fair manner, the MPCC president informed that Congress men/women resolved to fight the ADC election in all DCCs of Ukhrul ADC with a firm conviction that no one has the right to forfeit their democratic right regardless of the ban imposed by certain groups that no one should contest the election on Congress tickets.

Informing that there are many sitting ADC Members in the list of party candidates announced today, Gaikhangam clarified that it was the ban imposed upon Congress that some sitting Congress ADC Members left the party and joined BJP.

MPCC would not take any action against them for they left the party for safety of their own lives.

INC would fight the ADC election on the planks of unity, development and territorial integrity of Manipur.

As the threat perceptions have been rising with each passing day, stringent security measures would be taken up shortly.

Gaikhangam reiterated that INC would retain power in four ADCs including Ukhrul.

He conveyed that the Government of India has been asked to ensure that NSCN-IM is adhering to the cease fire ground rules.

The Government of India has also been urged to rein in NSCN-IM cadres who are roaming with arms and stop them from interfering in the ADC election, Gaikhangam added.