At least 10 former Cong leaders figure in BJP candidates list; to contest in all 60 seats
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 30 2022: The BJP will contest all 60 seats in the Assembly election, the party said today, as it released a list of its candidates.

At least 10 former Congress leaders among 16 MLAs who joined the BJP have got tickets.

Manipur has been waiting with anticipation for the BJP to announce its list since January 25, after State unit president A Sharda Devi, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Works Minister Th Biswajit returned from Delhi after consulting the Central leaders.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh will contest from his traditional seat in Heingang.

Another key Minister in Manipur Biswajit Singh will contest from Thongju seat.

Former National footballer Somatai Shaiza will contest from Ukhrul.

Shaiza narrowly lost to the Congress candidate Alfred Kanngam Arthur of the Congress in the 2017 Assembly polls from Ukhrul Assembly Constituency.

At least 10 former Cong leaders figure in BJP candidates list

Letpao Haokip is another footballer from the BJP stable who is set to contest from Tengnoupal Assembly Constituency.

Haokip was elected to the Assembly in the 2017 Assembly election as a candidate of the NPP from Chandel AC.

In the 2017 election, the BJP won 21 seats, but formed Government with the help of smaller parties and independent MLAs.

Of these, 19 MLAs have been given party tickets and two have been dropped, BJP sources added.

The Manipur BJP has fielded only three women and one Muslim candidate.

Former State Congress chief who joined the BJP, Govindas Konthoujam, has also got a party ticket to contest the election from Bishnupur Assembly Constituency.

Most loyalists of the Chief Minister have got party tickets, BJP sources said.

The three women are Nemcha Kipgen from Kangpokpi, SS Olish from Chandel, and Soraisam Kebi Devi from Naoriya Pakhanglakpa.

Of the three, Nemcha Kipgen is the sitting MLA from Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency.

The BJP has also fielded three former Indian Administrative Service officers- Dinganglung Gangmei from Nungba, Yengkhom Surchandra Singh from Kakching, and Raghumani Singh from Uripok.

"BJP will contest all the 60 seats and will get a majority on its own.

The Modi Government has ensured that Manipur will get a stable Government and will continue to ensure the development and peace of the region," BJP's Manipur election in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is in majority in the Manipur Assembly.

This includes 30 BJP MLAs, three MLAs from National People's Party, four Naga People's Front and three Independents.