BJP ticket seekers decide to contest as independents
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 02 2022:
After disapproval by the BJP leadership for the party's ticket, Hijam Somorendro of Langthabal assembly constituency has announced his decision of contesting the upcoming state assembly election as an independent candidate.
Addressing a press meet at his Kakwa residence on Wednesday, Somorendro said that he contested the assembly election for the first time on Samata Party's ticket in 1995 but lost to Karam Babudhon and he came third after Okram Joy.
This time, he and Karam Shyam were vying for BJP ticket and was confident that the party would choose him but got rejected, Somorendro said.
Expressing confidence that the people of Langthabal assembly constituency will choose him this time, Somorendo maintained that Karam Shyam of BJP will be his closest rival and he can defeat him by going independent.
While assuring of saving the youth from drug menace and bringing developmental changes in the constituency if he got elected, Somorendro urged the people of Langthabal to support him in the upcoming election.
Despite denial of BJP ticket, Somorendro confided that he will support BJP in formation of the next government if elected.
Similarly, BJP Manipur Youth former president P Somorjit, who was preparing to contest the upcoming polls as BJP candidate from Langthabal AC, has announced that he would be instead contesting as an independent candidate after failing to get the party ticket.
Speaking at a public meeting held at his residence near Lilong Chajing Pukhri Achouba on Wednesday, Somorjit expressed that although he failed to get the party ticket, he would be contesting the polls as an independent candidate, as per the wishes of the people.
He then said that he would never forget the anguish felt by him and his supporters after being denied the party ticket, for life.
The response to the betrayal BJP gave to him after 20 years of dedication will be reflected on March 10, he said.
"BJP is no longer the cadre and ideology based party we used to know, thus, the people particularly the youth should not place much hope on the party," he remarked, while adding that he would work hard to improve the deplorable conditions of Langthabal, in addition to extending support to entrepreneurs of the constituency.