BJP announces names of 4 candidates
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 11 2020: BJP has announced four candidates for the by-election to five Assembly segments scheduled on November 7 .

Even though no one has been named as its candidate for Lilong AC, BJP is likely to support ex-MLA Abdul Nasir.

The BJP Central Election Committee announced the names of Oinam Lukhoi, Paonam Brojen, Ngamthang Haokip and Ginsuanhau as its candidates for Wangoi AC, Wangjing-Tentha AC, Saitu AC and Singhat AC respectively.

Notably, all these four BJP candidates won the last State Assembly election on Congress tickets.

Abdul Nasir was also elected on Congress ticket from Lilong AC.

They resigned from Manipur Legislative Assembly fearing disqualification after they voted in favour of BJP candidate Leishemba Sanajaoba in the Rajya Sabha election in defiance of the Congress party's whip.

After the Assembly Secretariat declared that 13 Assembly seats out of the total 60 are vacant, the ECI announced by-election in five Assembly segments namely; Wangoi, Wangjing-Tentha, Lilong, Saitu and Singhat.

It is being speculated that ex-MLA Abdul Nasir may contest the by-election as a candidate of Manipur Congress which was floated recently.

Although many of his colleagues went to Delhi and joined BJP after quitting Congress, Abdul Nasir did not join BJP.

Notably, MPCC has already notified that people who wish to contest the by-election on Congress tickets may collect and submit forms from October 10 to 15 .

On the other hand, BJP workers and supporters raised an uproar at Lilong this afternoon against exclusion of Lilong AC from announcement of BJP candidates for the by-election.

The aggrieved BJP supporters burnt the party's flag and even blocked Imphal-Moreh road for some time.

Police managed to drive away the protesters and re-opened Imphal-Moreh road after firing several rounds of tear gas shells.

Further, the All Lilong Youth Development Committee has announced indefinite general strike in Thoubal district with effect from 6 am of October 12 against the alleged discriminatory attitude of BJP.

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