Announcement of BJP candidates for Manipur Assembly Election 2022 sparked off volatile reactions from those who had been denied tickets. The party named its candidates for all the 60 assembly constituencies. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had the last laugh with SS Olis and son-in-law RK Imo securing party tickets
TFM Report
Upset over preference to turncoats in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate lists, many karyakartas erupted in protest across Manipur on Sunday. Angry workers in constituencies with many ticket seekers ransacked mandal offices, pulled down party flags and banners and set them ablaze. However, no untoward incidents were reported at major offices of the party in the state capital and district headquarters, which were put under an unprecedented security cover.
The BJP named its candidates for all the 60 assembly constituencies. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had the last laugh with SS Olis and son-in-law RK Imo securing party tickets. The party fielded the chief minister from his Heingang assembly segment. Three sitting MLAs — Y Erabot Singh of Wangkei A/C, P Saratchandra of Moirang A/C and M Rameshwar Singh of Kakching A/C were dropped.
Manipur BJP dynasty party🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Qa3HSZPLzn
— Anamika Thapa (@Thapa4INC) January 30, 2022
The party fielded Congress turncoat Okram Henry Singh whose election was nullified by the high court of Manipur for withholding information in his election affidavit filed in 2017. Henry is the nephew of former Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi. The party chose M Prithviraj and Y Surchandra over P Saratchandra and M Rameshwar Singh for Moirang and Kakching assembly seats respectively.
Protesting against the candidature of Congress turncoat RK Imo Singh who switched over to the BJP in November last year, BJP workers ransacked the Sagolband mandal office and declared abolition of madal.
As anticipated, with the announcement of BJP’s candidate, those, who did not get a party ticket, resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined other parties. While Erabot decided to opt for the NPP and another BJP ticket seeker Thangjam Arunkumar joined Janata Dal (united) in Wangkhei constituency. Meanwhile angry supporters of P Saratchandra pledged allegiance to the Congress.
The Congress had announced its first list of 40 candidates. Upset over the denial of Congress ticket, workers of former Hiyanglam MLA and Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Dr Elangbam Dwijamani resigned from the primary membership of the party. Dwijamani and his supporters also burned Congress flags and banners to register their strong protest against party leadership.
Revolt in BJP Manipur after BJP annonces list of candidates for assembly elections.
Soon in every part of India these scenes will be norm of the day for BJP.https://t.co/imUWoUyQN9 pic.twitter.com/g7MvHxnOyE
— Congress Sevadal (@CongressSevadal) January 30, 2022
Sources said the Congress, which had bagged 28 seats in the 2017 election, is planning to enter into a pre-poll alliance with some Left parties. The candidates for the remaining 20 seats will be announced after finalising the seat sharing deal with the Left parties, they added.
Burning down of @BJP4India flag is a common sight in Manipur today as candidates for @BJP4Manipur in the upcoming #ManipurElections2022 is announced. The supporters of those intending candidates unsuccessful in getting BJP tickets resorted to violent protests and arson. pic.twitter.com/EuREON5i8p
— Thongkholal Haokip (@th_robert) January 30, 2022
The NPP had also announced its first list of 20 candidates for Manipur assembly elections. The party, which has four sitting MLAs and is currently in alliance with the BJP, is going alone in the upcoming election and has fielded candidates against its ally in all the seats.
Manipur assembly elections will go to poll in two phases. First phase voting is scheduled for February 27 and the second phase March 3. Notification will be issued on February 1 for the first phase and on February 4. Last date for filing nomination for phase-I is February 8 and for phase-II February 11. Scrutiny will be held on February 9 and February 14 for phase-I and phase-II respectively. Counting of votes will take place on March 10.