INC bounces back with landslide victories in both seats
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 04 2024: The Indian National Congress (INC) on Tuesday scripted history in Manipur after the grand old party bagged both the parliamentary seats in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

As results of the general elections to Lok Sabha 2024 were declared on Tuesday, INC's Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam of Keishamthong Top Leirak, Imphal West district, who teaches at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi, won the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency seat defeating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee Thounaojam Basanta Kumar by a margin of 1,09,801 votes.

INC bounces back with landslide victories in both seats

INC's Alfred Kanngam S Arthur, meanwhile, won the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency defeating his nearest rival Kachui Timothy Zimik of Naga People s Front (NPF) by a margin of 85,418 votes.

As per the Form 21E issued by A Subhash Singh, the Returning Officer for Outer Manipur (ST) parliamentary constituency, the total number of valid votes polled for was 7,89,510 out of the total 10,50,242 eligible electors.

Number of votes for 'None of the Above' for the constituency was 7225 while 576 votes were rejected.

Alfred Arthur secured a total of 3,84,954 votes while Timothy Zimik received 2,99,536 votes.

The INC candidate secured 48.25 percent of the total votes polled in the constituency compared to the NPF candidate's 37.71 percent.

Independent candidate S Kho John secured 89,910 votes with 11.33 percent of the total votes polled.

Another Independent candidate Alyson Abonmai secured 15,110 votes with 1.88 percent of the total votes polled.

After the end of counting of votes, RO Subhash Singh declared election of Alfred Kanngam S Arthur to the House of the People from 2-Outer Manipur (ST) parliamentary constituency.

Alfred Arthur hails from Shang-shak of Ukhrul district.

Meanwhile, before his political sojourn, Dr Bimol taught at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU's) School of Social Sciences in New Delhi.

INC's Dr Bimol got 3,74,017 votes while his nearest rival BJP's Th Basanta Kumar had the favour of 2,64,216 voters.

Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A) cahdidate Maheshwar Thounaojam received 1,35,640 votes while number of votes cast for the other independent candidates include 13,050 for RK Somendro (Kaiku), 4881 for Moirangthem Totomsana Nongshaba, and 1296 votes for Haorungbam Sarat.

Total of 3797 voters pressed the NOTA button.

In terms of vote share, INC got 46.93 per cent of the total polled votes, BJP 33.16 per cent, RPI-A 17.02 per cent and 'others' 2.41 per cent while NOTA had 0.48 per cent.

As per tentative reports received early in the evening, Dr Bimol received the highest number of votes from Lilong assembly constituency where he got 21,788 votes followed by Thoubal AC with 19,835 votes and Wangkhem AC with 18,686 votes.

In Imphal West district, he had the highest number of votes from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa at 15,282 followed by Patsoi with 14,169 votes, and Mayang Imphal 12,707 votes.

In Imphal East, INC got the highest vote from Kshetrigao AC with 17,188 votes followed by Wangkhei with 14,314 votes and Khurai with 12,466 votes.

In Bishnupur, INC got the highest number of votes from Moirang AC with 18,343 votes.

INC received least number of votes in Heingang assembly constituency, the home AC of chief minister N Biren, where the party culled 5429 votes.

Earlier, on March 24 this year, Dr Bimol, known for his academic prowess and community engagement, emphasised the urgent need for a reinvigorated vision to steer Manipur towards a brighter future.

Dr Bimol urged the public to take the upcoming election not merely as a democratic exercise but as a pivotal opportunity to rejuvenate the state.

He also stated that the government's failure in addressing pressing issues compelled him to take a more proactive role in effecting change as a people's representative.

As the situation in Manipur is akin to disintegration of the state, he could no longer sit and express some views upon seeing the polarisation of communities on political ideologies, Dr Bimol added.