Imphal: Altogether 24 out of the 55 candidates contesting the 1st phase election in Imphal West on February 28 are first-time candidates.
Imphal West district has 13 Assembly Constituencies, all of which are going to the polls in the first phase of State Assembly election slated for February 28. From the 13 Assembly Constituencies, altogether 56 candidates from different political parties had filed their nominations till February 8.
However, an Independent candidate from 20-Langthabal AC Pukhrambam Somojit Singh withdrew his candidature on Friday reducing the total number of candidates to 55. 16-Sekmai (SC) AC with eight candidates has the highest number of candidates in the fray for Imphal West District.
26-year old Ningthoujam Popilal Singh from Sekmai AC is the youngest candidate in the district. On the other hand, at 80-year, Okram Joy Singh of the Indian National Congress from Langthabal AC is the oldest among the candidates in the Imphal West district. Out of the 55 candidates, five candidates are under 35 years of age while two are above 75 years.
`Imphal West has six women candidates contesting from different Assembly Constituencies. The six woman candidates are 77-year old Aribam Pramodini Devi of INC from 12-Keishamthong Ac, Independent candidate Maharabam Anita Devi from 16-Sekmai (SC) AC, Pukhrambam Sumati Devi of the NPP from 17-Lamsang AC, Khoirom Binarani Devi of NCP from 18-Konthoujam AC, Akoijam Mirabai Devi of INC from 19-Patsoi AC and Sagolshem Kebi Devi of BJP from 20-Langthabal AC.
Among the 55 candidates, an Independent candidate from 12-Keishamthong AC Sapam Nishikant is the richest in the fray, while the youngest candidate Ningthoujam Popilal Singh is also the poorest candidate. Popilal, who studied BA from Liberal College, Luwangshangbam, according to his affidavit, has identified himself as a cultivator without any source of income.
