Hectic campaigns underway in Outer Constituency
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 12 2014 :
Hectic election campaigns are underway in Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency by seven candidates fielded by different parties for the ensuing 16th Lok Sabha polls.
Five candidates belonging to the Kuki community and another two from the Naga community have geared up to join the fight picking up the pace of poll campaigns in the five hill districts for which voting has been scheduled for April 9 .
Candidates belonging to the Kuki community are sitting MP and Congress candidate Thangso Baite, Kim Gangte of Trinamool Congress, who is also president of the party, Lien Gangte of JD-U, Lamlalmoi of CPI-M and C Doungel of NCP.
On the other hand, BJP candidate Prof Gangumei Kamei and NPF nominee Soso Lorho are from the Naga community.
With the polling due to take place in only just a few weeks, the people are now busy making speculations on who will be the right candidate for the lone seat in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.
Thangso Baite will get the support of the 42 Congress MLAs in the 60-member State assembly for sure.
Moreover, the Congress MLAs from the Naga community are also likely to seek votes for Baite who is set to retain the seat.
Certainly, a big fight is expected.
However, the expectation is also likely to see inequity as five candidates from the Kuki community alone are likely to be in the contest.
Amidst the high expectation and speculation, the candidature of Prof Gangumei Kamei cannot be sidestepped as people have already seen the boost in the recent electoral performance of the saffron party and the rushing of many prominent political figures into the party fall across the country.
Soso Lorho is the candidate put up by Naga People's Front (NPF) that has four legislators in the State Assembly.
People are keenly watching as to how far he can get on his poll campaign to get votes from the Kuki community as well as from the seven Assembly segments in the valley.
At the same time, Kim Gangte, Lien Gangte and Lamlalmoi are also in the same frame of mind of winning the seat.
However, it is uncertain how many candidates exactly will be in the fray in the hill because as per the election notification, filing and withdrawal of nomination are due to come up.