Big two yet to finalise candidates : BJP, Cong continue search
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 17 2019: Even though no official announcements have been made, BJP is most likely to field a candidate belonging to Kuki community in Outer Manipur PC.

Outer Manipur PC which comprises 28 Assembly constituencies would go to polls on April 11 and due election notification will be issued tomorrow.

Congress candidate Thangso Baite who too belongs to Kuki community won the Outer Manipur seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

But this time, Thangso Baite is not in the race for Congress ticket.

On the other hand, sources informed that Sword Vashum and James Kashung both of whom belong to Naga community have the highest chances of getting the Congress ticket in Outer Manipur PC.

There is a strong possibility of the Congress high command allotting the party's ticket to one of them.

As such, chances of giving the Congress ticket to a Kuki candidate seem rather remote, said the sources.

According to the sources, Sword Vashum and O Nabakishore are most likely to be chosen as Congress candidates.

Other contenders for Congress ticket in Outer Manipur PC are Tongmang Haokip, W Lalkholam Hangshing, KS Ngaite, T Zangkhomang Haokip and John Manglianthang Zou.

Congress secured over 63 per cent of the total 1.50 lakh votes from the seven Assembly segments located within Thoubal, Kakching and Jiribam districts but included within Outer Manipur PC in the last Lok Sabha election.

This spectacular performance was attributed to Okram Ibobi who served as the Chief Minister of the State for three consecutive terms and the then Congress MLAs of the three districts.

This time too, Congress party has been expecting sizeable number of votes from the seven Assembly segments.

The party is also expecting considerable number of votes from Naga voters in the event of a Naga candidate bagging the party ticket.

Moreover, Congress party has its MLAs in Nungba AC, Ukhrul AC, Karong AC, Saitu AC, Tipaimukh AC, Saikot AC and Singhat AC.

On the other hand, BJP has been targeting a large chunk of votes from the seven Assembly segments of Thoubal and Kakching districts but included in Inner Manipur PC even though these Assembly segments were dominated in most cases by Congress.

BJP's calculation is based on the logic that the party has its MLAs in Heirok AC and Hiyanglam AC apart from the MLAs of Wangjing-Tentha AC and Kakching AC who joined BJP after they were elected on Congress tickets.

BJP has also been expecting a considerable share of votes from Jiribam AC whose independent MLA is currently supporting the BJP-led Government.

In case the party's ticket is given to a Kuki candidate, BJP would some share of the votes from Kuki community and BJP has its MLA in Kangpokpi AC too.

As BJP's alliance partner NPP is fielding its own candidate (Thangminlen Kipgen) in Outer Manipur PC whose MLAs represent Tadubi AC and Chandel AC, BJP's vote share in Kangpokpi district, Chandel AC and Tadubi AC is most likely to be distributed between the two parties.

NPF which won the second highest number of votes in the last Lok Sabha is yet to announce its candidate.

Thangso Baite of Congress secured 2,96,618 votes and NPF's Soso Lorho secured 2,81,121 votes while BJP's Gangmumei Kamei got 75,815 votes in the last Lok Sabha election.

In Inner Manipur PC, CPI's Dr Moirangthem Nara, MPP's O Jugindro and RK Somorendro alias Kaiku (independent) have announced their candidature.

O Joy, Dr Ng Bijoy, RK Anand, O Nabakishore, Dr T Meinya, Sarangthem Manaobi (Khoiranthaba), Mairenbam Biswarjit, Ningombam Bupenda and I Hemochandra are vying for Congress ticket in Inner Manipur PC .

As many as 16 individuals have been seeking BJP ticket in Inner Manipur PC and they include RK Ranjan, Chongtham Bijoy, Dr Nimaichand Luwang, Th Basanta, Salam Joy, Radhabinod Koijam, Dr Haobam Borbabu, A Sarda, S Nabachandra Sharma (Naba Volcano) and Col (retd) Lokendro.

Dr T Meinya won the Inner Manipur seat in the last Lok Sabha election by securing 2,91,339 votes against 1,96,755 votes secured by Dr Nara.

BJP's RK Ranjan secured 92,106 votes.

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