Three sitting MLAs dropped as BJP declares poll candidates
At least 10 former Congress leaders, three women given BJP tickets
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 30 2022: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finally announced its list of candidates for all 60 seats for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election, scheduled on February 27 and March 3, in a press conference held at the party's office in New Delhi on Sunday.

The candidates' list was announced jointly by BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra and Election in-charge Bhupender Yadav around 12.30 pm.

According to the list, three sitting BJP MLAs, namely L Rameshwor of Kakching AC, P Sarat of Moirang AC and Y Erabot of Wangkhei AC, were denied the party tickets.

Instead, the party ticket for the three said constituencies were given to Congress' ex-MLAs Y Surchandra (Kakching), M Prithviraj (Moirang), and Okram Henry (Wangkhei) .

Meanwhile, the party is fielding three women candidates in the upcoming polls, namely Kangpokpi AC MLA Nemcha Kipgen, SS Olish in Chandel and Soraisam Kebi Devi in Naoriya Pakhanglakpa.

Prior to the announcement of the candidates' list, the party's state president A Sharda Devi received a telephone call from the centre.

After the call, CM N Biren and the party president, who had been attending the death anniversary observance of Mahatma Gandhi and listen ing to the PM Modi's Mann ki Baat programme, immediately left the state party office.

A huge number of security forces were deployed in the area to prevent any unwanted incidents.

Shortly before the announcement was made, a team led by BJP Chingai Mandal president urged the party president to follow the rules in the distribution of party tickets.

The candidates approved by the Central Election Committee of the BJP for the two-phase elections are Thangjam Mohendro Singh (Khundrakpam assembly constituency), Nongthom bam Biren Singh (Heingang), Leishangthem Susindro Meitei (Khurai), Nahakpam Indrajit Singh (Kshetrigao), Thongam Biswajit Singh (Thongju), Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei (Keirao), Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh (Andro), Khongbantabam Ibomcha Singh (Lamlai), Jyotin Waikhom (Thangmeiband), Kh Raghumani Singh (Uripok), Rajkumar Imo Singh (Sagolband), Elangbam Johnson Singh (Keishamthong), Yumnam Khemchand Singh (Singjamei) Thokchom Satyabrata Singh (Yaiskul), Okram Henry Singh (Wangkhei), Heikham Dingo Singh (Sekmai SC), Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh (Lamsang), Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh (Konthoujam), Sapam Kunjakeswor (Keba) Singh (Patsoi), Karam Shyam (Langthabal), Soraisam Kebi Devi (Naoriya Pakhanglakpa), Oinam Lukhoi Singh (Wangoi), Kongkham Robindro Singh (Mayang Imphal), Thounaojam Basanta Singh (Nambol), Laishram Radhakishore Singh (Oinam), Konthoujam Govindas (Bishnupur), Mairembam Prithiviraj Singh (Moirang), Tongbram Robindro Singh (Thanga), S Premchandra Singh (Kumbi), Y Antas Khan (Lilong), Leitanthem Basanta Singh (Thoubal), Yumnam Nabachandra Singh (Wangkhem), Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (Heirok), Paonam Brojen Singh (Wangjing Tentha), Dr Khundrakpam Menjor Mangang (KhangabokL Dr Usham Deben Singh (Wabagai), Yengkhom Surchandra Singh (Kakching), Dr Radheshyam Yumnam (Hiyanglam), M Binod Singh (Sugnu), Budhachandra Singh (Jiribam), SS Olish (Chandel ST), Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal ST), AS Hopingson (Phungyar ST), Somatai Shaiza (Ukhrul ST), MK Preshow Shimray (Chingai ST), Yamthong Haokip (Saikul ST), R Yuh Jonathan Tao (Karong (ST), S Alexander Maikho (Mao ST), O Lorho (Tadubi ST), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi), Ngamthang Haokip (Saitu ST), Wilubou Newmai (Tamei ST), Huri Golmei (Tamenglong ST), Dinganglung Gangmei Dipu (Nungba ST), Dr Chaltonlien Amo (Tipaimukh ST), Vungzagin Valte (Thanlon ST), Letzamang Haokip (Henglep ST), V Hangkhanlian (Churachandpur ST), Paolienlal Haokip (Saikot ST) and Ginsuanhao Zou (Singhat ST) .

At least 10 former Congress leaders, who joined the BJP were among those allotted the BJP tickets.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest in all 60 seats in the upcoming assembly elections and form a government with more than 2/3rd majority," said Bhupender Yadav, BJP Manipur election in-charge during announcement of the candidates at the party's headquarters in New Delhi.

The party's nominees included doctors, IAS officers and sportspersons, prominent among them being former footballers N Biren Singh, Letpao Haokip and Somatai Shaiza and martial arts player Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

BJP has fielded three retired IAS officers Kh Raghumani Singh, Yengkhom Surchandra Singh and Dinganglung Gangjnei (Dipu), who has taken voluntary retirement from service recently.

"When PM Narendra Modi came to Manipur, the people were so overjoyed and felt happy that PM Narendra Modi holds us so close in his heart.

So, in return, the people of Manipur have now decided that they will keep PM Modi close to their hearts by electing the government with a two-third majority," Sambit Patra, BJP Manipur in-charge said.

Mention may be made that BJP candidate in Wangkhei AC Okram Henry is the nephew of Congress leader O Ibobi Singh.

From the hills constituencies, the ruling party BJP has fielded a new face and former president of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) AS Hopingson in Phungyar (ST) constituency.

He will be contesting against NPF MLA and HAC chairman K Leishiyo, among other candidates.

Former NPP leader and minister Letpao Haokip, who had recently joined the Saffron party and contest from Tengnoupal (ST) AC, had won the 2017 polls from from Chandel (ST) on an NPP ticket against BJP candidate SS Olish.

Currently, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, is in majority in the assembly.

This includes 30 BJP'MLAs and three MLAs from the National People's Party (NPP) and four NDF and three independents.

Leading the NDA government, Biren Singh on March 15, 2017, formed the government in Manipur.

It, however, got a major jolt in June 2020, when nine MLAs, including ministers, withdrew their support from the government, reducing it to a minority.

An intervention by the central leadership within a week resulted in four NPP MLAs coming back to the NDA fold, thereby averting the fall of the government.

Manipur goes into polls in two phases - February 27 and March 3.Results will be announced on March 10 .

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