Our Correspondent
Imphal, Feb. 2 (EMN): Manipur BJP MLA Pukhrem Sharatchandra Singh elected from the Moirang assembly constituency resigned from the membership of Manipur Legislative Assembly, officials said on Monday.
“Consequent upon his resignation, 27 Moirang Assembly Constituency is now lying vacant with effect from Monday, Jan. 31 2022,” stated the secretary of Manipur Assembly, K Meghajit Singh in an official bulletin issued on Monday.
With Sharatchandra’s resignation, altogether 10 Assembly Constituencies are lying vacant in the 60 members Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Prior to his resignation, MLA Ksh Biren, who was elected on Congress ticket from Lamlai assembly constituency in Imphal East district but had been supporting the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur, also resigned from the Assembly.
Dr. Chaltonlien Amo, a Congress MLA from Tipaimukh seat and an independent MLA, Md Ashab Uddin elected from Jiribam have also resigned from the assembly on January 10 and 28 respectively.
Later, Dr. Chaltonlien joined the BJP in Imphal in the presence of BJP leaders, while Md Ashab Uddin joined Janata Dal (United) to contest in the upcoming assembly elections.
In 2017, Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the state by winning 28 seats out of the total 60 seats. But despite winning 21 seats to Congress’s 28, BJP was able to form a government with the support of four National People’s Party MLAs, four Naga People’s Front MLAs and one MLA each from Trinamool Congress, Lok Janshakti Party and an Independent.
Manipur will go to poll in two phases on February 27 and March 3. In the first phase, elections will be held for as many as 38 constituencies and the remaining 22 constituencies will vote in the second phase. The counting will be held on March 10.
Congress announces 14 more candidates
With the announcement of a second list of 10 candidates followed by four more candidates in the third list, the Congress has so far announced names of 54 candidates for the ensuing Manipur assembly elections. AICC’s general secretary, Mukul Wasnik issued two press releases in this regard that were made available to the media.
The Congress’s second list includes former BJP MLA P Sharatchandra Singh of Moirang constituency and former minister Ningthoujam Biren Singh of Sekmai constituency. The remaining eight candidates in the 2nd list are H Nutanchandra Singh (Thangmeiband), Moirangthem Momo Singh (Sagolband), Ningthoujam Joykumar Singh (Bishnupur), Badrur Rahman (Jiribam), N Kipgen (Kangpokpi) and H Mangchinkhup Paite (Churachandpur).
The third list of four candidates includes former minister Marung Makunga (Tengnoupal), A Pramodini (Keishamthong), Birla Haobijam (Thanga) and R K Priyobarta (Wangkhei).
Former BJP MLA Sharatchandra was among the three BJP MLAs who were denied party tickets when the ruling BJP announced its 60 candidates list on Sunday. In his place, former congress legislator M Prithviraj Singh, a runner up in the 2017 polls, was given the BJP ticket for the elections. With the new list of Candidates, the congress has so far named 50 candidates out of the state’s 60 seats for the elections.