18th Lok Sabha elections: 6 in fray in Inner, 4-sided fight in Outer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 30 2024: With none of the candidates withdrawing their nomination papers till today, it has been confirmed that six candidates will fight for the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat while four candidates will compete in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

Incidentally, March 30 is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

Altogether seven intending candidates filed their nomination papers in Inner Manipur PC but the nomination paper of one was rejected during scrutiny on March 28 as it was found incomplete.

The nomination paper of Ngasepam Nilakanta filed in the name of Universal Family Party (UFP) was rejected by the RO.

There were technical flaws or lacunas in the nomination papers of MPP candidate Rajkumar Somendro alias Kaiku and RJSP candidate Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba.

Nonetheless, the RO allowed them to contest the elections as Independent candidates but not under the banner of any political party.

The candidates who have been cleared to contest the 18th Lok Sabha elections in Inner Manipur PC after scrutiny are Angomcha Bimol Akoijam (INC-palm), Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh (BJP-Lotus), Maheshwar Thounaojam (RPI-pen nib with seven rays), Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba (Ind-coat), Rajkumar Somendro alias Kaiku (Ind-ship) and Haorungbam Sarat Singh (Ind-football player).

In Outer Manipur PC, Alfred Kangam Arthur (INC-palm), Kachui Timothy Zimik (NPF-cock), Alyson Abonmai (Ind-dia-mond) and S Kho John (Ind-trumpet) have been cleared to contest the elections.

The 18th Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to be held in two phases in Manipur on April 19 and April 26.Angomcha Bimol Akoijam s/o late Akoijam Birendra Singh is a resident of Keishamthong Top Leirak.

Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh s/o Thounaojam Chaoba Singh is a resident of Utlou Mayai Leikai.

Maheshwar Thounaojam s/o Thounaojam Darendra Singh is a resident of Keishampat Aheibam Leikai.

Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba s/o late Moirangthem Tombiyaima is a resident of Heirok Part II Mayai Leikai.

Rajkumar Somendro alias Kaiku s/o late Rajkumar Modhusana is a resident of Thangmeiband Meisnam Leikai.

Haorungbam Sarat Singh s/o Haorungbam Gourachandra Singh is a resident of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai.

Alfred Kangam Arthur s/o AS Arthur hails from Sangshak, Ukhrul district.

Kachui Timothy Zimik s/ o late K Luiraphang Zimik is a resident of Sanakeithel village, Ukhrul district.

Alyson Abonmai s/o Alempu Abonmai hails from Konsakhul (Konsaram) village, Kangpokpi district.

S Kho John s/o late Kh Seiba is a resident of Tungjoy Risivumai village, Senapati district.

Incidentally, INC's Bimol Akoijam is being supported by the constituent parties of INDIA Bloc Manipur.

Earlier, CPI announced that it would field Laishram Sotinkumar as its candidate in Inner Manipur PC but the party later changed its mind and decided to support the Congress candidates in both Inner Manipur PC and Outer Manipur PC.

The constituent parties of INDIA Bloc Manipur are CPI, CPI(M), INC, AAP, Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, NCP, All India Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray).

Although BJP is ruling both at the Centre and in the State, it is not fielding any candidate in Outer Manipur PC.

Instead, it is supporting the NPF candidate.

Notably, NPF is a partner of BJP-led NDA.

Correspondingly, NPF is supporting the BJP candidate in Inner Manipur PC.

NPP is also a partner of BJP-led NDA and with seven MLAs, it is the second largest party in Manipur.

But NPP is not fielding any candidate in both Inner Manipur PC and Outer Manipur PC.

Moreover, it has not yet taken any concrete decision on which party/candidates it should support.

Sources informed that most of the NPP MLAs have an inclination to support BJP's Th Basanta Kumar in Inner Manipur PC and NPF's Timothy Zimik in Outer Manipur PC.

However, office bearers of NPP State unit are not in favour of supporting the BJP candidate in Inner Manipur PC.

Recently, a team of NPP State unit office bearers led by NPP National vice-president Y Joykumar went to Shillong and met with party president Conrad Sangma.

In the meantime, some NPP MLAs raised a proposal to either leave the party and join BJP or merge the party with BJP.

As a result, the party is at the moment caught in a tumultuous situation, sources said.

32 Assembly segments of Inner Manipur PC and 15 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur PC would go to polls in the first phase on April 19 .

Voting in the remaining 13 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur PC would be held on April 26.The Assembly segments clubbed under Inner Manipur PC are 1-Khundrakpam, 2-Heingang, 3-Khurai, 4-Khetrigao, 5-Thongju, 6-Keirao, 7-Andro, 8-Lamlai, 9-Thangmeiband, 10-Uripok, 11-Sagolband, 12-Keisamthong, 13-Singjamei, 14-Yaiskul, 15-Wangkhei, 16-Sekmai (SC), 17-Lamsang, 18-Konthoujam, 19-Patsoi, 20-Langthabal, 21 -Naoriya Pakhanglakpa, 22-Wangoi, 23-Mayang Imphal, 24-Nambol, 25-Oinam, 26-Bishnupur, 27-Moirang, 28-Thanga, 29-Kumbi, 30-Lilong, 31-Thoubal, 32-Wangkhem, The 15 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur PC which would go to the polls in the first phase are 33-Heirok, 34-Wangjing Tentha, 35-Khangabok, 36-Wabgai, 37-Kakching, 38-Hiyanglam, 39-Sugnoo, 41-Chandel (ST), 46-Saikul (ST), 50-Kangpokpi, 51-Saitu (ST), 57-Henglep (ST), 58-Churachandpur (ST), 59-Saikot (ST), and 60-Singhat (ST) .

The remaining 13 Assembly segments of Outer Manipur PC where the parliamentary election would be held on April 26 are 40-Jiribam, 42-Tengnoupal (ST), 43-Phungyar (ST), 44-Ukhrul (ST), 45-Chingai (ST), 47-Karong (ST), 48-Mao (ST), 49-Tadubi (ST), 52-Tamei (ST), 53-Tamenglong (ST), 54-Nungba (ST), 55-Tipaimukh (ST) and 56-Thanlon (ST).

Altogether 9,89,887 voters are eligible to exercise their right to vote at 1319 polling stations in Inner Manipur PC.

There are 10,36,736 voters and 1636 polling stations in Outer Manipur PC.

Counting of votes for both Inner Manipur PC and Outer Manipur PC would be done on June 4 .

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