Assembly polls: 45 apply for INC tickets
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 13 2022: As the poll date for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election draws closer and different political parties are making preparations to declare their candidates, Congress party has so far received application forms from 45 intending candidates.

Meanwhile, in an interesting feature for the upcoming election, MLA Yamthong Haokip, who recently quit Congress and joined BJP would be facing his daughter Lhingkirn Haokip, general secretary of All India Mahila Congress, as his rival in Saikul assembly constituency.

Sources said that altogether 76 people have taken application forms for INC ticket and 45 have submitted the filled up forms so far.

The party had set January 15 as the last date for submission of application forms for seeking INC ticket.

Lhingkirn Haokip was among the 45 intending candidates, who have submitted their application forms and she would be the closest rival of the sitting MLA of Saikul assembly constituency and her father Yamthong Haokip.

He got elected on INC ticket from Saikul AC in 2017.Meanwhile, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice president Kh Devabrata has said that Congress party is not like a sinking ship and the party will continue to exist just like Sun and Moon.

It was unfortunate that some politicians who lack vision left the party and spread rumour about the party, Devabrata said during a press conference held at Congress Bhawan here on Thursday.

Devabrata further said the party decided not to issue tickets to five politicians namely Y Surchandra of Kakching, Kshetrimayum Biren of Lamlai, Okram Henary of Wangkhei, Sanasam Bira of Kumbi and Md Abdul Nasir of Lilong due to their anti-party activities in the past.

Accordingly, Y Surchandra was not issued the ticket application form when he sought for the same and he is not in the membership list of the party anymore.

However, Surchandra submitted a letter mentioning resignation from primary membership of the party for not issuing ticket application form.

Though the party received the resignation letter, no response was given and party has no connection whatever with resignation of Y Surchandra.

The allegation levelled by Surchandra in his resignation letter that Congress party is like a sinking ship and would not be able to form the government again was the remark generally made by those who left the party, Devabrata added.

Regarding CM Biren Singh's remark on stoppage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's carcade for more than 20 minutes due to farmers' protest in Punjab recently, Devabrata said that the Manipur CM's remark was provocative and very unfortunate as a five-member committee headed by a Supreme Court justice had already begun investigation into the matter.

It is condemnable to portray Congress party as law violators in view of the assembly election to be held in the state while linking an incident unrelated to Manipur, Devabrata said, adding that it is a big question as to why Prime Minister was so fearful within India.

On the other hand, BJP has not invited applications from intending candidates so far.

The party is carrying out opinion poll at the Mandal level as it is facing a tough situation in the selection of candidates.

The party is likely to declare list of candidates for some assembly constituency where the party already has sitting MLAs or'ministers.

As for the remaining ACs, the party will conduct screening at different levels and the state leaders would also be sending their recommendations to the central leaders.

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