ECI urged to hold by polls in 8 other ACs on November 7 too
Reshuffle effected with blessings from Centre: CM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 30 2020: The Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur has written to the Secretary of the Election Commission of India to hold the by elections to three vacant Assembly Constituencies on November 7 or any other date near to November 7, as announced for Lilong AC and Wangjing Tentha AC yesterday.

Along with urging the ECI to hold the by elections in the three Assembly Constituencies, the Joint CEO also forwarded the representations submitted by three intending candidates to the ECI.

The three ACs are Saitu AC, Wangoi AC and Singhat AC .

The representations were submitted by ex-MLAs Ngamthang Haokip (Saitu), Oinam Lukhoi (Wangoi) and Ginsuanhau (Singhat) .

Reshuffle effected with blessings from Centre: CM

Earlier before the Joint CEO wrote to the Secretary of the ECI, Chief Minister N Biren said that the State Government has taken up necessary steps to approach the ECI to conduct the by elections in the eight ACs (where by elections are most likely to be held) along with Lilong AC and Wangjing Tentha AC on November 7 .

The ECI had yesterday notified that by elections to Lilong and Wangjing Tentha ACs will be held on November 7 .

At the moment 13 Assembly seats are lying vacant and the Assembly Secretariat had issued a notification on this.

Interacting with reporters by the sidelines of the function held to commemorate the 124th birth anniversary of Jananeta Hijam Irabot at Thangmeiband Lilashing Khongnangkhong today, the Chief Minister said that save for a case which has been filed, there is no stay order on holding elections in eight seats from the Supreme Court and the High Court of Manipur.

If the solitary case is exempted, then the by elections to these 8 seats can be held, added the Chief Minister.

Speaking further on the same line, the Chief Minister said that written appeals would be sent to the ECI to hold the by elections to the eight ACs along with Wangjing Tentha and Lilong on November 7.The applications to be sent to the ECI for each such Constituency have been drafted, he added.

Answering queries from the reporters, the Chief Minister said that BJP being a National party, all decisions pertaining to reshuffling the Council of Ministers and dropping and inducting new faces are taken after due consultation with the Centre.

At the moment, the Health and Family Welfare portfolios are under the care of the Chief Minister.

The said portfolios will be distributed to the other Ministers after due consultation with the Centre, added the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister also assured that like the Government of India had announced, a cash compensation of Rs 50 lakh would be given in case any of the frontline workers fall victim to COVID-19 while discharging their duties.

Touching on the philosophy of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot, the Chief Minister said that the people of Manipur are inspired and look up to his line of thoughts, his love for the motherland, his concerns for the tillers of the soil and appealed to all to renew their trust in his philosophy and work for the greater good of all.

Earlier on the day, the Chief Minister led others in paying respect to the statue of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot.

Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar, Cabinet Ministers, Chairmen of different corporations, Chief Secretary, DGP and other high ranking Government officials were present at the function.