Rishang wins RS seat 35 votes to 24

Imphal, April 08: Veteran Congressman and former chief minister Rishang Keishing has been elected to the Upper House of the Parliament, defeating his lone rival Radhabinod Koijam by a margin of 35 to 24 votes in the biennial Rajya Sabha election held at the committee room of the Manipur legislative Assembly. At least two cross votes were cast, as the Opposition candidate?s tally of 24 was two more than the strength of the Opposition following the departure of the Democratic People?s Party, DPP. There also one invalid vote. Polling for the biennial election began normally at 9 am today. Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was the first to cast his vote, followed later by the Ruling front members. Most of the Ruling MLAs had cast their votes by around 10.30 am well before the deadline of 4 pm. The Opposition MLAs followed suit, and by 11 am 54 votes had been cast. A little later, the DPP duo of N Biren and Dr T Meinya arrived and voted. The last to cast his vote was Okram Joy Singh of MPP at 12.40 pm. Former MLA Morung Makunga served as polling agent for the Ruling candidate while L Ibomcha Singh performed the like order for the Opposition. The ballot box containing the sixty votes cast by the MLAs was opened at 5 pm precisely in the presence of election observer R Chandramohan, joint secretary in the Union ministry of environment and forest, and the counting agents BD Behring of the Opposition and M Okendra of the Ruling front. In the first count Radhabinod Koijam secured 24 votes and Rishang got 35, thus giving the latter the victory. One of the votes was declared invalid, as the ballot paper was found unstamped, and with the names of both candidates crosses out with a pen. Speaking to the media after being declared victorious, Rishang Keishing expressed his gratitude to the MLAs who stood by him despite the threats from some underground groups. He added that it was a rare opportunity for him to prove his love and concern for the state. He said he had to work for the whole of the state and not for any particular section, and promised to do so to the best of his capacity. Asked what top priority was, he said he will work for harmonizing the relationship between the hill and plains for peaceful coexistence for different groups of people. Regarding the cross voting, he declined to make further comment beyond saying that it could possibly be because of the threats by the UGs, or perhaps the MLAs concerned had differences with him.