0 Joy to fight Assembly polls
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 19 2016: Veteran politician Okram Joy has decided to contest the forthcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

He launched his election campaign by opening an election office at his Kakwa residence today.

A public meeting was also held at Kakwa community hall where Joy announced his decision to fight the Assembly election.

"With due acknowledgement of all the suggestions put forward by the people of Langthabal AC, I would be definitely contesting the Assembly election", said Joy who is also a spokesman of BJP Manipur Pradesh.

There were reports that BJP would not give party tickets to aged people.

But on investigation, it was found that it was a baseless propaganda floated by some people who are aspiring to contest the forthcoming election on BJP ticket in Langthabal AC, he added.

"I was elected five times and I lost Assembly elections twice.

People elected a new representative because I was serving as an MLA for a prolonged period.

Here one can ask whether there was any remarkable change during the past five years or so", Joy said.

The primary duties of an MLA are enactment of laws, allocation of funds for public purposes and ensuring proper governance but the incumbent MLA of Langthabal AC has been working as a monitor of Panchayat and urban local bodies.

There were also reports about the MLA holding back 7802 ration cards issued under NFSA.

Forget about the MLA, even the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister cannot forfeit the benefits entitled to a beneficiary of NFSA, Joy asserted.

There were certain points of obscurity regarding the admission of four AITC MLAs in Congress party because all the four parties were facing disqualification cases.

The Speaker's acceptance of the resignation letters submitted by the fourNPF MLAs would be discussed with the Governor, said the veteran politician.

The resignation letters were submitted about a year back and the Speaker accepted their resignation only a few days back.

If a Member does not take part in the proceedings of the State Assembly for 60 days, he/she gets disqualified automatically, Joy said.

It appeared that the Speaker did not uphold the Constitution's propriety with regard to the resignation of the four NPF MLAs.

Dr Nimaichand Luwang, another spokesman of BJP Manipur Pradesh, said that BJP has started conducting a survey in all the 40 Assembly segments of the valley and added that the survey has been completed in 20 ACs.

BJP has already decided to give party tickets to prospective candidates like O Joy, Nimaichand said.

The four AITC MLAs who joined Congress recently were earlier knocking the doors of BJP.

MLA Th Bishwajit said that Congress and corruption are the two sides of a coin.

Corruption can never be eradicated as long as there is Congress.

BJP Langthabal Mandal president L Brajamohon, BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesman N Mangi, Langthabal Zilla Parishad member S Ronel and Lilong Nagar panchayat Chairperson A Omila were also present at the meeting.

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