Konthoujam Assembly Constituency By-election
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25, 2011:
A meeting of the Core Committee of BJP State Unit today has decided to support K Sarat, the candidate of Trinamool Congress in the upcoming by-election to Konthoujam Assembly Constituency.
MPP, which is the oldest regional party in Manipur, too had already announced its decision of supporting the candidate of Trinamool Congress in the by-election.
The meeting of the Core Committee of BJP State unit discussed the written applications submitted respectively by K Ranjit, who is an Independent candidate in the by-election and K Sarat, the candidate of the Trinamool Congress, for extending support and decided to support K Sarat on receiving due approval from the National leaders of the party, State unit BJP president Sh Shantikumar has informed.
In response to a question, Shantikumar said that there was an understanding that the two alliances of NDA, BJP and JD (U) would be supporting K Sarat in the by-election.
However, as JD (U) has not come out with any formal announcement in this regard, the Core Committee of State BJP Unit has taken an independent decision on supporting K Sarat.
On the reason for supporting K Sarat by BJP, Shantikumar explained that the decision has been taken after a thorough survey of the ground situation as the BJP knew that the candidate of Trinamool Congress is the one who can defeat the Congress candidate in the by-election.
BJP would take full participation in the election process and ensure the success of K Sarat at its level best, he added.
Observing that there is great difference between the upcoming by-election to the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency and other by-elections held in Yaiskul, Khundrakpam and Moirang Assembly Constituencies, Shantikumar asserted that although the sons of the deceased MLAs have succeed in the other by-elections, it is not going to be so in case of Konthoujam as the sitting MLA had lost connection with his people.
Moreover, there is lot of resentment over lack of development in the constituency not just among the public but also within the Congress, he added.