Imphal: Manipur’s incumbent Education, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh filed his nomination papers from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary seat for the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha election at the Imphal West DC office here on Wednesday.
The final day of the filing of nomination also witnessed five more candidates filing their nomination papers for the same seat, including Congress’ Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and Republican Party of India – Athawale (RPI) candidate Maheshwar Thounaojam at the office of the Returning Officer in Lamphelpat, Imphal West.
The other candidates who submitted their nominations on Wednesday are – Moirangthem Totomshana Nongshaba representing Rashtriya Janhit Sangharsh Party (RJSP); Haorungbam Sarat Singh – Independent candidate and Ngasepam Nilakanta Singh representing the Universal Family Party.
On Monday, superstar Rajkumar Somendro, also known as Kaiku filed his nomination paper representing the Manipur People’s Party (MPP).
The nomination papers will be taken up for scrutiny at 11 am on Thursday, March 28, Thursday at the Office of the Returning Officer, No. 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency at Lamphelpat, Imphal, an official of the ECI said.
While filing his nomination, Basantakumar, a former IPS officer, was accompanied by almost all his cabinet colleagues including Chief Minister N Biren Singh and party president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and senior leaders of the party.
Dr Bimol, a teacher at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi was accompanied by party president and MLA Keisham Meghachandra along with other INDIA block leaders.
Alfred files nomination at Thoubal
On the other hand, Congress’ lone candidate and former legislator Alfred Kanngam Arthur filed his nomination papers from the Outer Manipur Parliamentary seat at the Returning Officer, Thoubal on Wednesday.
The ruling saffron party has decided not to field any candidate from the Outer seat and instead will extend support to its ally Naga People’s Front nominee Kachui Timothy Zimik, a retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, dropping the incumbent MP Lorho S Pfoze.
Earlier, dozens of BJP workers vandalized its office in Senapati district after the party decided not to contest from the Outer seat.
No candidate from Kuki-Zo community
Despite producing many MPs earlier, the Kuki-Zo communities this time will not put up any candidate in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency. The recently formed Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) said that following a consultation with organisations of the tribes, it was decided no member from the community should file nomination for the election, considering the plight and difficulties due to the ongoing violence in the state.
