Rivals pick flaws in minister Rajen's poll documents
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 11 2022: Education minister and Lamsang AC MLA Sorokhaibam Rajen has been found to have passed his Bachelors in Arts degree in 1985, 1988, and 1992, as per the affidavit annexed in the nomination papers filed by him in previous elections.

Thus, even if he were to win the ensuing polls, an election petition would be filed against him at the High Court of Manipur and as such, the people of Lamsang need not waste their votes on Rajen since he is bound to be removed from the MLA seat, said other candidates in the constituency.

In this regard, a press meet was organised jointly by his rival candidates Manibabu Likmabam (INC), Khundrakpam Kanba (JD-U), Arambam Karamjit (independent) and,r Pukhrambarri Sumati (NPP) at Manipur Press Club here on Friday.

Speaking to newspersons, Manibabu recalled that the scrutiny for the 1st phase of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election was conducted on February 9.On the day of scrutiny, Sorokhaibam Rajen filed nomination, stating that he passed his BA degree from YK College in 1988, and this was his highest educational qualification.

To this, Manibabu and other candidates filed an objection to the RO, pointing out that Rajen mentioned the year of graduation as 1985 during the 2007 polls, and as 1992 in the 2012 and 2017 elections.

In 2022, he mentioned the year of passing graduation as 1988.In addition to this, Rajen mentioned his father's name as Sorokhaibam Nila in the nomination papers of the previous election.

However, he changed the parent's name to Sorokhaibam Yaimabi in the affidavit submitted for the upcoming polls.

Even if an argument for adoption could be made, Rajen failed to support any legal document supporting the same.

Manibanu continued: "In the nomination filed in 2007, Rajen stated that he was 43 years old, 53 years in 2012, 52 years in 2017 and 57 years in 2022 .

On the other hand, a case against Rajen was taken up by Patsoi PS in 2007 .

This information was withheld by him for a long time and only mentioned the criminal case in the nomination for the upcoming polls.

There are documents and evidences supporting the above discrepancies.

"It would be unfortunate for the people and the constituency if a dishonest individual, who continues to lie to the people even after getting a ministerial post, is reelected.

However, when the objection was made to the RO, the RO did not file an FIR to the competent authority, as should be done.

Thus, the candidates would be filing a case against the RO as well.

"Furthermore, if Sorokhaibam Rajen happens to win the election, an election petition would be hied in the High Court of Manipur, which will likely remove him from the post of MLA.

If needed, the candidates will approach the Supreme Court.

Many MLAs in the past were also removed from their seats for providing false information", the INC candidate said, and urged the people of Lamsang AC not to waste their precious votes on Rajen.

On the other hand, an advertisement was published in the local dailies conveying that Rajen had lost his graduation certificate, the advertisement copy of which is needed to be submitted, as part of the process for applying for a new certificate.

However, Rajen failed to mention in the nomination papers whether the graduation certificate submitted by him was an original or a duplicate copy.

It is not known the certificate was issued by MU, as there are reports that the varsity issued the certificate after top powers in BJP gave pressure, Manibabu remarked.

He then said that the above issues are being put out in the open through the media not because of personal enmity, but against the wrongs which are being committed.

If such unscrupulous individuals were to get re-elected, the future of the state will be quite bleak, he contended.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Arambam Kamarjit stated that he is contesting the polls for the first time and it is understandable if a newbie like him were to make mistakes while filing the nomination.

However, minister Rajen's act of fooling the people is not digestible and he (Rajen) should make it clear to the public the exact year of passing his graduation.

JD(U) candidate Khundrakpam Kanba urged the people to cultivate the ability of discerning which candidate is lying or telling the truth.

The respect being given to minister Rajen is because he is a representative of the constituency.

He will not get the same respect anywhere else.

Thus, Kanba urged for concerted efforts in eliminating wrongdoers from the society.

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