Newmai News Network
Imphal: Finally, BJP on Tuesday named Education minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.
The name of the Education minister to contest the elections from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency was included in its list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024 released today.
The list dropped sitting party MP from the same constituency Dr RK Ranjan who is also the serving Union minister of State for External Affairs and Education from the fray.
Must read | NPF Timothy Zimik Initiates Campaign by Filing Nomination for Outer Manipur Parliamentary Election 2024
Sources said that the name of the candidate for the Inner Lok Sabha seat was finalized after a series of meetings between a team of central observers of the party and state party leaders.
Soon after his name was announced, Basanta Kumar was accorded a warm-welcome by party leaders and workers led by chief minister N Biren Singh and state BJP chief A Sarda Devi.
“Together with the Central leaders, I will fight to restore peace and normalcy in the state,” Basanta Kumar told reporters amid the cheers from party leaders and workers.
Chief minister N Biren Singh congratulated Basanta Kumar on being nominated as the candidate of BJP for Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.
He said that Basanta Kumar is the right candidate to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election and the party candidate will win the election by a huge margin.
Must read | ITLF Advises Kuki-Zo Community not to Contest Lok Sabha Polls; Two more Candidates File Nominations
With the announcement of the candidate for the BJP, so far five parties have named the candidates to be fielded in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.
RK Somendro alias Kaiku of MPP had filed his nomination paper for candidacy for the Inner seat.
The Congress had already announced Professor Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam as party’s nominee for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.
The CPI and Republican Party of India (RPI)- Athawale had already announced fielding their nominees.
The CPI had announced fielding Laishram Sotinkumar as party’s candidate while the RPI (Athawale) named its national secretary Maheshwar Thounaojam contesting the elections from the Inner LS seat.
Check this | Will there be any far reaching impact in the implementation of NRC in Manipu
March 27 is the last date for making a nomination for the contesting the elections for both the Lok Sabha seats in Manipur which voting take place in two phases, on April 19 and 26.
While the voting for the Inner seat is to go on April 19, the polling in the Outer seat will be held twice – April 19 and April 26.
For the Outer seat, Kachui Timothy Zimik had already filed his nomination paper to the returning officer (RO) of the election at Thoubal DC office on Monday.
The Congress named Alfred Kangam Arthur as the party’s candidate for the seat. However, he is yet to file his nomination paper.
Must read | RK Somendro (Kaiku) Nominated as MPP’s Candidate for Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency