RS poll : BJP likely to field Bhabananda
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 11 2017:
BJP and its coalition allies are likely to field BJP Manipur Pradesh president K Bhabananda as their common candidate for the by-election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat of Manipur.
Notably May 15 is the last date for filing nomination papers for the by-election.
Scrutiny would be done at 11 am of May 16 at the Secretariat of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Nomination papers can be withdrawn till 3 pm of May 18 .
Polling would be held from 9 am till 4 pm of May 25 at the committee room of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The by-election has been necessitated after sitting Rajya Sabha ML Haji Abdul Salam expired.
Even though the BJP-led coalition has not yet named their candidate officially, it is being speculated that the coalition may field BJP Manipur Pradesh president K Bhabananda as their common candidate.
Yet, sources informed that former BJP Manipur Pradesh president Dr Haobam Borbabu is also vying for the BJP ticket.
Meanwhile, Congress party has allotted its ticket to MPCC vice-president and former MLA E Dwijamani to contest the Rajya Sabha by-election.
MPCC secretary (administration) S Jiten has issued an office memorandum to this effect today.
E Dwijamani hails from Hiyanglam AC of Kakching district.
Hiyanglam AC is one of the eight Assembly segments included in Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.
Incidentally, residents of these eight Assembly segments can cast their votes but are barred from contesting Parliamentary elections.
The Thoubal/Kakching Districts MP Candidature Demand Committee has been demanding nomination of a competent citizen from amongst the people of the eight Assembly segments as the Rajya Sabha MP.