Imphal, Feb. 4: A day after Indian National Congress announced its first and final candidates names for all 60 assembly seats in one go for the ensuing Manipur assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also releases its second list of 27 candidates on Saturday. Manipur goes to polls on March 4 and 8 next.
BJP had already released names of 31 candidates on January 23 and is yet to release names of just two candidates for Bishnupur and Lamshang seats till date. BJP Central Election Committee has decided the names in the second list which include former leaders Jyotin Waikhom, who joined BJP few days back. The BJP’s Central Election Committee Secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda issued a press release in this regard on Saturday.
Except for the three first timer candidates namely Paojalet Touthang (Saikul), Paokholal Haokip (Saikot) and Chinglungthang Zou (Singhat), most of the candidates names found in the second list including one time popular footballer Somatai Shaiza (Ukhrul) had already contested from different political parties in the previous polls. Out of the 27 names, there are just six ex-MLAs.
Interestingly, both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP have selected just two women candidates each out of 60 seats. Like the Congress which fielded two woman candidates including current Social Welfare Minister Ak Mirabai (Patsoi) and state Mahila Congress Chief Loitongbam Tilotama (Langthabal, BJP also has former MLA Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi) and SS Olis (Chandel) in the first two candidates lists which were released so far.
Even Chief Minister Okram Ibobi’s wife and sitting MLA O Landhoni (Khangabok) has been replaced by her son Surjakumar (Kenedy) Okram in the Congress list which was released on Friday. Meanwhile newly formed Left and Democratic Front Manipur comprising CPI, CPI(M), NCP, JD(U), Manipur National Democratic Front and Aam Aadmi Party is also likely to announce its first list of candidate names on or before February 6 while Irom Sharmila’s People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance is yet to release names of its candidate.
