Imphal, Feb. 5: Many aspiring candidates for the ensuing Manipur assembly elections on March 4 and 8, started to resign from Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the denial of party tickets.
Former Minister and incumbent general secretary of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee Langpoklakpam, Jayantakumar, who represents Keishamthong seat in Imphal West district, resigned from Congress and joined the National People’s Party (NPP).
“Even though I’ve been denied Congress ticket, people of my constituency gave their consent to join NPP,” former education minister Jayantakumar said.
Former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA L Ibomcha, who recently joined the Congress party, got the Congress ticket for Keishamthong seat.
Similarly, BJP state secretary O Malesh of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa also resigned from the BJP state unit following a public meeting at his residence. Malesh, who was not happy over the decision of the party over the distribution of ticket for the ensuing elections, informed the gathering on Sunday that he took the decision after taking advice from his supporters in Naoriya Pakhanglakpa constituency.
Another BJP state unit functionary Thongam Gopen also decided to join the North East India Development Party (NEIDP) after tendering resignation from the BJP Manipur Pradesh to contest from Keirao constituency in Imphal East district.
On the other hand, former civil society leader Yumnam Nabachandra, an intending candidate who sought a BJP ticket to contest from Wangkhem seat in Thoubal district, reportedly decided to contest from NEDIP after he was denied BJP ticket.
Former MLA Khangthuanang Panmei of Tamenglong seat in Tamenglong district who was earlier hopeful of BJP ticket is also planning to join a national party to contest for the seat this time after he was also denied BJP ticket. Former minister Samuel Jendai got the BJP ticket.
Likewise former MLA Doukhomang Haokip of Saikul constituency under the newly created Kangpokpi district also formally announced that he will join a ‘people’s friendly’ party to contest in the upcoming Manipur assembly elections.
Earlier, former MLA Haokip was hopeful for a BJP ticket. One Paojalet Touthang got the BJP ticket in the constituency, while former MLA Yamthong Haokip will contest on Congress ticket.
Meanwhile, Keisham Ningthemjao, who sought BJP ticket for Andro seat, and Ningthoujam Itomba, who was also seeking BJP ticket for Keirao seat, have joined Manipur National Democratic Front to fight the forthcoming election in their respective constituencies on MNDF tickets.
