Manipur parties release candidates’ list for Assembly elections

IMPHAL, Jan 12 — Most of the political parties in the State have started to announce candidates’ list for the forthcoming 8th State Assembly election which is scheduled to be held on February 14 and 21. Despite the controversies in the distribution of party tickets, the Congress(I) has announced a list of 60 candidates for the 60 seats fom New Delhi. The MPCC(I), the State unit of AICC failed to announce the list since sharp differences surfaced among the party workers. The AICC leader Imran Kidwai also came down to Imphal on January 6 to pacify the tension. Former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing and former MPCC(I) chief Phungzathang Tonshing were featured in the Congress list.

Meanwhile, the newly floated Manipur National Conference (MNC) headed by former Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha also came out with a list of 15 candidates for the first phase for the forthcoming Assembly election. The Federal Party of Manipur (FPM), which was led by former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Leishangthem Chandramani also announced it’s first phase list on Friday. The list includes a total of 49 candidates for the 60 Assembly segments. Of these 31 are general, two Scheduled Caste and 15 Scheduled Tribes and one ST candidate. A number of heavyweights including former Deputy Chief Minister and former Forest Minister Gangmumei Kamei have been officially named as candidates of the party.

Meanwhile, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP), one of the oldest regional political parties in eastern India also announced the name of 15 candidates. Of the 15 candidates, four are former MLAs while the rest are fresh candidates. The party president and former Opposition firebrand O Joy while announcing the list during a press conference here at its party office said that his party would go it alone in the forthcoming election. He said owing to fund crunch and abysmal law and order situation, the MPP may not field any candidate in the hill constituencies. There are 20 hill Assembly seats in the 60 constituencies. It may be mentioned here that the CPI, Democratic People’s Party (DPP), and RSP had already announced their candidates’ list a few days ago. CPI is producing 15 candidates for the first phase while the DPP is producing 17 candidates. The RSP is going to field 3 candidates in valley constituencies. The Manipur State Congress Paty (MSCP), Samata Party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and CPM are likely to announce their first phase list within January 15. The former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam who is leading Samata Party however told the mediamen that his party will retain 15 seats and his party is likely to nominate 30-40 candidates in the election.