MPCC delegates cast votes in presidential polls
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 17 2022:
A total of 54 delegates from Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) cast their votes in the presidential election of the Indian National Congress held on Monday.
The polling process in respect of the state began from 10 am under the supervision of AICC Pradesh assistant returning officer TD Pradipkumar.
MPCC president MLA K Meghachandra cast the first vote and the process continued till 4 pm.
Out of the 54 delegates, 51 cast their votes at Congress Bhawan and the remaining three at their respective stations.
Ex-MP Dr T Meinya cast his vote from Nagaland where he is assigned as returning officer of the neighbouring state.
All India Mahila Congress Committee general secretary Kim Haokip, who is accompanying Rahul Gandhi in the latter's Bharat Jodo Yatra, cast her vote at the present location of the Yatra.
MLA O Surjakumar is in the national capital and he cast his vote there.
Meanwhile, interacting with the media, former chief minister O Ibobi said that India is a democratic country and Congress party is holding the election for the party president in a democratic way.
While remarking that he cannot ascertain who will win the election, Ibobi said party leader Sonia Gandhi is on neutral ground and does not favour any of the candidates.
The election is also a response to the dynastic politics narrative by rival parties, he said while expressing confidence that the party will return to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
According to MPCC president K Meghachandra, the election is being held across the country peacefully.
Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor are contesting for the party's top post.
Once the election is over and a new president is elected, the party will work towards increasing its strength, he confided and elaborated how the party carried out the exercise at the grassroots level to decide delegates who are eligible to cast votes in the election.
He also expressed hope that the party will emerge victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha election under the new president.
Reacting to the dynastic politics slur raised by some parties, the MLA reminded all concerned that the Gandhi family contributed a lot to the party as well as the country for generations for which the party is indebted to the family.
Former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the country, he said, adding that Congress government in the past had never faced any corruption charges.
He also spoke about party's role in India's freedom struggle.