Imphal: Manipur Pradesh Congress President K Meghachandra, and Congress Legislative Party leader O Ibobi were among the delegates who exercised their franchise to elect the new President of the Indian National Congress here.
Under tight security, the election was held at the state party headquarters.
Meghachandra said 54 delegates from Manipur were eligible to exercise their franchise in the election. The peaceful, democratic election will decide the fates of the two candidates, Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor, he said, adding that strengthening the party by conducting mass campaigning and election of delegates will bring a new change.
When asked about the role of the Gandhi family he said they have sacrificed for the nation and the clean image they have made them the natural choice and leader of the party.
“Just see the supreme sacrifices by the members of the family for the nation whether it was Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi who gave their lives for the nation,” he said.
Former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said the nation has not witnessed such a democratic election in a political party to elect the national President. The election will lead to strengthening of the Congress, he added.
The polling started around 10 am and will end at 4 pm. The results are likely to be declared on October 19.
Political pundits have already anointed Kharge as the most probable candidate to win the presidential polls, considering Tharoor’s allegations that the contest was not a level-playing field in accessing the delegates.
