Hectic lobbying for ticket on, destination Delhi 2012 polls
Many swarm AICC office
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 29 2011: With elections to the next Manipur Legislative Assembly fast approaching and when aspiring candidates have started engaging themselves in intensive social activities within their respective constituencies, lobbying for Congress tickets have attained a high pitch and it has reached Delhi.

Manipur is scheduled to go to polls in the early part of 2012 together with Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Goa.

In addition to the efforts of respective Pradesh Congress Committees to secure Congress victory in these six States, AICC has also geared up to select and field only the most hopeful candidates, informed a source based in Delhi.

With the objective to ensure that the Congress bags maximum seats in all the six States, AICC has been working hard to announce the names of its candidates as early as possible so that they can launch their election campaigns in full vigour.

Another reliable source informed that some candidates who have been seeking Congress tickets have started lobbying with the top leaders of the AICC at Delhi.

MPCC member Keisham Ningthemjao who has been aiming to fight the elections under Congress ticket in Andro AC has opened a camp at Delhi and is reportedly lobbying hard with AICC leaders to get a Congress ticket.

An aerial view of the AICC office

So far, Ningthemjao and his team have met AICC North East in-charge Lunzinho Falerio as well as the AICC minority cell chairman, Imran Kidwai.

Ningthemjao also had another meeting with AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi at 10-Janpath, New Delhi.

Here at Imphal too, many Youth Congress activists have been lobbying hard to get Congress tickets.

Based on its policy of giving opportunities to the youngsters, many aspiring young candidates have been already given different posts in the Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee.

Of the many functionaries of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Leishangthem Sushildro (Yaima) and Md Abdul Nasir have already kick-started a series of activities which are more akin to election campaign in their respective constituencies of Khurai and Lilong.

Among the general secretaries, former AMSU president Panganbam Premananda who unsuccessfully contested in the earlier Assembly elections from Thongju AC Assembly elections from Thongju AC has also launched his election campaign, though unofficially, in Kshetrigao AC.

With more than one candidate seeking Congress ticket in one constituency, the AICC high command has been facing a very tricky situation.

Recently, three aspiring candidates all seeking Congress ticket confronted at Tamenglong.

Similar incidents resulting from show of strength by aspiring Congress candidates are being witnessed in many constituencies in Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West districts too.