Agriculture, economy, employment common agenda in Thoubal district
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 01 2022:
All the candidates who are contesting election from four of five assembly constituencies in Thoubal district have stated that improvement in agriculture and economy as well as bringing solution to unemployment issue are their agenda when The People's Chronicle contacted them with a common set of questionnaires.
These constituencies will go to the polls in the second phase on March 5 .
Heirok Assembly Constituency
BJP candidate MLA Thokchom Radheshyam said that he did his best to plug the developmental gaps in the constituency in the last five years, after it was left unattended for several years, and he is contesting the election to continue his service to the people.
While creating employment opportunities for youth and improving irrigation networks to develop the agriculture sector would be the main focus in the constituency, augmenting economy of the state through tourism and other sectors would be accorded equal importance, he said.
NPP candidate Ningthoujam Diten confided that he is contesting the election to address the issues faced by the people of his constituency in agriculture, education, health, road connectivity and unemployment.
His main priority for the constituency is to develop better irrigation facility and bring improvement in agriculture sector to achieve surplus food production.
For the state, he wants to focus on integrity, utilise resources to make self-reliant state, get ownership of Loktak project and resolve unemployment issue.
RJSP candidate Moirangthem Tomtomsana said that he is contesting the election to serve the public and he wants to bring improvement in agriculture, power and water supply in his constituency.
His main priority for the state would be repeal of AFSPA from the entire state, he said.
INC candidate Moirangthem Ok-endro failed to respond when TPC contacted him.
Thoubal Assembly Constituency
INC candidate and former chief minister O Ibobi said that he contesting the election to serve the people of the state and he would be working towards improvement of road connectivity, power supply, drinking water and health sector in his constituency.
For the state, his top priority will be addressing unemployment issue through a special policy.
BJP candidate Leitanthem Basanta said the main reason for contesting the election is to serve the people and improvement of health infrastructure, safe drinking water, road connectivity, education and unemployment sectors will be his primary focus in the constituency.
He wants to focus on framing policies to make Manipur self-reliant and take maximum advantage of JD-U candidate Irom Chaoba said that he wants to end the political disconnect between the people living in the outskirt of the constituency and the elected representative.
His main focus for his constituency will be addressing issues related with education, sports and irrigation sector which are being faced by people of Thoubal Leishangthem.
Promoting sporting talents and taking up welfare programmes for farmers will be his top priority at the state level.
Shiv Sena candidate Konsam Michael cited unemployment issue as the main reason for him to join the electoral fray and said that he wants to address the issue through skill development programme.
He also wants to address the issues related with agriculture and safe drinking water in the constituency if he got elected.
His top priority for the state would be improving government educational institutions, amending MLR&LR Act, and resolving key issues like border row and AFSPA.
Khangabok assembly constituency
INC candidate Okram Surjakumar said that he contesting the election to bring changes in the political scenario of the state as a youth and he would be focusing on improving irrigation facility in his constituency to boost farmers' income.
His top priority for the state would be taking up special policies to address unemployment issue by bringing in national and multinational companies into the state.
JD-U candidate Thokchom Jadumani said he is contesting the election to serve the public better than the previous MLAs of the constituency.
Creating job opportunities, improving irrigation and providing safe drinking water would be his key focus in his constituency.
At the state level, his focus would be effective implementation of ILPS and resolving border issue among other major issues, he said.
BJP candidate Khundrakpam Menjor refused to respond to queries from TPC.
Lilong Assembly constituency
INC candidate Anwar Hussain cited safe drinking water among other issues that prompted him to contest the election.
Reviving government educational institutions and improving road connectivity would be his key area of focus in his constituency if elected.
He also wants to bring about a clean and committed government by rooting out corruption.
BJP candidate Y Antas Khan said that he is contesting the election to make Lilong a model assembly constituency and his focus in the constituency would be road connectivity, education and health sector with complete transparency and accountability.
He wants to make the state a self-reliant state with integrity, peace and sound economy.
Independent candidate Md Irshad Hussain cited the need for representation of Lilong by a native of the AC and bringing youth & women empowerment as the reason for contesting the election.
Bringing unity and integrity among the different communities of the state would be his top priority and he also wants to work towards improving education and health sectors.
Independent candidate Abdul Manan and JD-U candidate Abdul Nasir declined to comment on queries from TPC.