TDMPCDC renews demand on eve of RS election
Source: IT News
Imphal, May 06 2017:
The Thoubal District MP Candidature Demand Committee has demanded that a person from the Assembly constituencies of Thoubal district that are included in the Outer Parliamentary constituency be sent to the Rajya Sabha as the voters in these constituencies have been denied the right to stand for election in their own parliamentary constituency.
Election for the lone Rajya Sabha seat will be held on coming May 25 after it fell vacant following the death of Haji Abdul Salam who incidentally hails from Wabagai, one of the eight star-crossed Assembly constituencies.
The remaining Assembly constituencies in the Outer Parliamentary constituency whose 2.35 lakh electorates can vote but are ineligible to enter the fray as a candidate are Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabok, Kakching, Sugnu and Hiyanglam, all part of the erstwhile Thoubal district, and Jiribam.
A sit in protest was also organised today to reinforce the demand to the state government.
The committee has warned that it is all geared up to launch a series of intense agitations and even go far ahead to boycott the Rajya Sabha elections if the demand is not heeded.
The committee also expressed its unhappiness over the denial of the right to stand in the Lok Sabha elections as the outer constituency is reserved for ST, stating that the people of the eight Assembly constituencies have been reduced to status of second class citizens.