RS polls: Ex-Minister Abdul Salam nominated as Cong candidate
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 27 2014: All speculations over nomination of Congress candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha seat of the State ended today with All India Congress Committee (AICC) putting forward ex-Minister Abdul Salam for the Rajya Sabha MP, keeping in view of the representation from the minorities.

As many as 20 Congressmen including sitting MLA of Uripok A/C L Nandakumar have applied for the party's ticket for the ensuing Rajya Sabha Election scheduled to be held on February 7 next month.

The AICC's proposal for Abdul Salam was relayed to Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) yesterday.

Subsequently, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) discussed the matter during a meeting held at Chief Minister's Bungalow today.

The legislatures unanimously approved Abdul Salam's nomination as the Congress candidate in the coming Rajya Sabha Election.

Abdul Salam

Later today, Abdul Salam filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha Election at Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat in presence of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, Deputy CM Gaikhangam, other Congress Ministers and MLAs.

His nomination was proposed by 12 Congress leaders including Dr Chaltonlien Amo, T Manga Vaiphei, D Korungthang, Victor Keishing, Fajur Rahim, Amin Shah, K Ranjit, N Biren, T Mangibabu, M Prithviraj and Dr Kh Ratankumar.

The last date for filing nomination papers is January 27.So far, only Congress candidate Abdul Salam has filed the nomination form.

The nomination papers would be scrutinized on January 29 and the election would be held on February 7 next.

If no other candidate files the nomination papers by tomorrow, Abdul Salam would be elected unopposed as the State's new Rajya Sabha MP.

Even if there is election, the Congress candidate would surely win as the party has 42 MLAs out of the total 60 in Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Talking to media persons at Manipur Legislative Assembly Complex, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that MPCC had wanted the State's Rajya Sabha MP from amongst the minorities in the previous term, but AICC proposed for Rishang Keishang's second term in the Rajya Sabha.

The nomination of Abdul Salam is indeed the result of the efforts made by MPCC in the previous term, Ibobi added.

Abdul Salam was first elected MLA in 1980 as an independent candidate from Wabagai A/C. He was again elected MLA in 1995 and 2002.He had been a Cabinet Minister twice in his political career and has been actively involved in the works of Congress Party in the State.

It may be noted that Wabagai is one of the seven assembly constituencies under Thoubal district where the electors do not enjoy the right to contest Lok Sabha polls even if they have voting rights.

The Thoubal District MP Candidature Demand Committee and People's Plea for Representation in Parliament have been urging the Congress leaders for nomination of State's lone Rajya Sabha member from among the people of these seven constituencies of Thoubal district and Jiribam A/C who do not enjoy the right to contest Lok Sabha Election.