Imphal, April 29: A ruling of the Gauhati High Court yesterday has maintained status quo on the controversial appointment of Sanjenbam Geeta Devi as the Chairperson in-charge of Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur.
According to advocate Y Nirmolchand, who appeared on behalf of Geeta, the ruling of the court implies that she will continue to hold her earlier post of Additional Director of Education (S) .
The ruling of the High Court followed a writ petition filed by Geeta challenging the Government order appointing her as the Chairperson of the Council.
Among other reasons, Geeta cited that she does not fulfil the requisite norms/qualification to hold the post of the Council's chairperson and contended that such order was in contrary to the provisions under sub-section II of the Section 12 of the Manipur Higher Secondary Education Act, the lawyer informed.
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has rightly detected the flaw in the Government order of appointing the petitioner to such a post, he added.
After hearing both parties Justice UB Saha , in his Imphal Bench sitting on Monday maintained the status quo.
The court has also issued notices to the State respondents including Commissioner/ Secretary and Director of Schools Education to give their replies on the writ filed by the petitioner within four weeks.
Moreover, the respondents have been asked to reply within a week as to why the operation of the Government's order appointing Geeta as the Council's Chairperson should not be stayed as prayed by her or " why such further or other orders as to this court may deem fit and proper should not be passed".
While opposing Geeta's appointment to the post of Council's Chairperson, DESAM has demanded the Government to revoke the appointment order.
The All Manipur College Teachers' Association (AMCTA) has also demanded the authorities to review the order.
It is said according to the standing norms, a person who holds the post as Director in School Education or Higher Education can be appointed as the Council's Chairperson.
Government college principals who have 15 years of experience and having reader or selection grade qualifications are also said to be eligible for the post.
Manipur parties protest over alleged proxy voting
Imphal | April 26: The Left front and Democratic co-ordination committee of Manipur formed jointly by the All India Forward Block (AIFB), Rashtrya Samata Party (RSP), Janata Dal (I), the CPI and CPI (M) Saturday protested and demanded re-polling in 16 (sixteen) polling stations of Thoubal and Andro assembly constituencies in Manipur alleging the Congress had manipulated the voting in these polling stations during the second phase polling in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency.
Over hundreds gathered at the Raising Athletic Union (RAU) ground in Imphal East and demanded the chief electoral officer (CEO), Manipur to conduct re-polling in the sixteen polling stations for a free and fair election.
Two major political parties of the state, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and the CPI, on April 22, the day of voting for Inner Manipur constituency, had alleged the Congress had manipulated voting, including proxy and impersonation, in many a polling stations of Thoubal district. In this regard, the two parties had demanded for re-polling in the sixteen polling stations. The CPI had also declared it would go on a protest from Saturday demanding re-polling.
The CPI had decided to organise the protest at the Keishampat traffic junction in Imphal West with the permission of the concern deputy commission. However, in what could be termed a blow to the plan to organise the protest in the district, the Imphal West district magistrate, A. Ibocha Singh order section 144 Cr.
PC of the Code of Criminal procedure citing police reports of the likelihood of peace being breach and public tranquillity being disturbed in the Imphal West district from 10:00 a.m. Saturday until further notice.
As such, the venue of the protest was shifted to the RAU ground in Imphal East district. During the protest, CPI state secretary, L. Iboyaima asserted the committee would not quit pressuring for re-polls in the sixteen polling stations especially in Thoubal, Andro and Khundrakpam 1/21. The Left Front leaders at the centre are also pressuring the chief election commission of India regarding the proxy voting, he informed.
CPI candidate Dr. M. Nara and CPI (M) executive member Kh. Santa will leave for the Capital tomorrow to inform on fake voting in Manipur and pressurise re-polling, the secretary of the CPI informed. The CPI will not be silent on this matter and will even resort to judicial moves to shelter the matter, Iboyaima added. Also condemning the act of the Congress, L. Sotinkumar, CPI agent expressed shock over the voting getting over at 8:30 a.m. in some polling stations of Andro with over 90 percent polling records.
Over hundreds gathered at the Raising Athletic Union (RAU) ground in Imphal East and demanded the chief electoral officer (CEO), Manipur to conduct re-polling in the sixteen polling stations for a free and fair election.
Two major political parties of the state, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and the CPI, on April 22, the day of voting for Inner Manipur constituency, had alleged the Congress had manipulated voting, including proxy and impersonation, in many a polling stations of Thoubal district. In this regard, the two parties had demanded for re-polling in the sixteen polling stations. The CPI had also declared it would go on a protest from Saturday demanding re-polling.
The CPI had decided to organise the protest at the Keishampat traffic junction in Imphal West with the permission of the concern deputy commission. However, in what could be termed a blow to the plan to organise the protest in the district, the Imphal West district magistrate, A. Ibocha Singh order section 144 Cr.
PC of the Code of Criminal procedure citing police reports of the likelihood of peace being breach and public tranquillity being disturbed in the Imphal West district from 10:00 a.m. Saturday until further notice.
As such, the venue of the protest was shifted to the RAU ground in Imphal East district. During the protest, CPI state secretary, L. Iboyaima asserted the committee would not quit pressuring for re-polls in the sixteen polling stations especially in Thoubal, Andro and Khundrakpam 1/21. The Left Front leaders at the centre are also pressuring the chief election commission of India regarding the proxy voting, he informed.
CPI candidate Dr. M. Nara and CPI (M) executive member Kh. Santa will leave for the Capital tomorrow to inform on fake voting in Manipur and pressurise re-polling, the secretary of the CPI informed. The CPI will not be silent on this matter and will even resort to judicial moves to shelter the matter, Iboyaima added. Also condemning the act of the Congress, L. Sotinkumar, CPI agent expressed shock over the voting getting over at 8:30 a.m. in some polling stations of Andro with over 90 percent polling records.
EVMs stored safely in strong rooms in Tripura
AGARTALA, April 25 : With over 80 per cent polling recorded in Tripura - the highest in the country so far in the 15th Lok Sabha election - polling officials deposited the EVMs safely in the strong rooms last night.
According to official reports, except 18 polling parties, which had conducted elections in farthest locations in Tripura, roughly about 18,000 polling staff had deposited 2,990 EVMs till late last night.
The counting of the poll is scheduled to be held on May 16 after the fifth and last phase of elections. The report said the commission had received six complaints from different political parties.
The Left Front demanded re-poll in one booth under Asharambari Assembly segment of East Tripura (tribal reserved) seat while the Congress accused the CPI-M of proxy voting in the southern part of the state.
“An EVM developed technical problem after casting of 109 votes in a particular booth in Asharambari area, which forced the authority to replace the EVM and voting was disrupted for about an hour. So we demand fresh polling there,” CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar said.
Police said no untoward incidents related to poll were registered with police till last night. Altogether 25,000 security personnel, bolstered by day long air-surveillance, ensured peaceful polling in 3,008 booths spread across the state.
Tripura had set a record in the electoral history of voter turnout in post-Independent era in the country when it registered 91.86 per cent turnout in last year’s state Assembly election held on February 23.
In this Lok Sabha elections too, the percentage of casting was highest in the country so far, Additional CEO Dilip Acharjee said.
According to official reports, except 18 polling parties, which had conducted elections in farthest locations in Tripura, roughly about 18,000 polling staff had deposited 2,990 EVMs till late last night.
The counting of the poll is scheduled to be held on May 16 after the fifth and last phase of elections. The report said the commission had received six complaints from different political parties.
The Left Front demanded re-poll in one booth under Asharambari Assembly segment of East Tripura (tribal reserved) seat while the Congress accused the CPI-M of proxy voting in the southern part of the state.
“An EVM developed technical problem after casting of 109 votes in a particular booth in Asharambari area, which forced the authority to replace the EVM and voting was disrupted for about an hour. So we demand fresh polling there,” CPI-M state secretary Bijan Dhar said.
Police said no untoward incidents related to poll were registered with police till last night. Altogether 25,000 security personnel, bolstered by day long air-surveillance, ensured peaceful polling in 3,008 booths spread across the state.
Tripura had set a record in the electoral history of voter turnout in post-Independent era in the country when it registered 91.86 per cent turnout in last year’s state Assembly election held on February 23.
In this Lok Sabha elections too, the percentage of casting was highest in the country so far, Additional CEO Dilip Acharjee said.
Manipur deputy speaker arrested; resigns
Imphal, Apr 18 : Manipur's Deputy Speaker Th Shyam Kumar, who was out on bail in connection with a three-year-old case, was arrested here today after which he resigned from the post.
Kumar submitted his resignation to Speaker Budhi Chandra, shortly after his arrest, sources in the assembly secretariat said, adding Chandra accepted his resignation. The deputy speaker was arrested here and produced before a court which sent him to jail, police said.
According to police sources, Kumar had earlier been arrested in early 2007 from Delhi airport allegedly along with two Manipur insurgents and materials related to underground activities in the state seized from them.
Kumar had allegedly financed the two insurgent members who belonged to United National Liberation Front (UNLF) while they were trying to go to Kathmandu, sources said.
However, Kumar had denied the allegation saying he was going to Kathmandu to seek admission for his sister in a medical college.
The three had been arrested under different sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Kumar submitted his resignation to Speaker Budhi Chandra, shortly after his arrest, sources in the assembly secretariat said, adding Chandra accepted his resignation. The deputy speaker was arrested here and produced before a court which sent him to jail, police said.
According to police sources, Kumar had earlier been arrested in early 2007 from Delhi airport allegedly along with two Manipur insurgents and materials related to underground activities in the state seized from them.
Kumar had allegedly financed the two insurgent members who belonged to United National Liberation Front (UNLF) while they were trying to go to Kathmandu, sources said.
However, Kumar had denied the allegation saying he was going to Kathmandu to seek admission for his sister in a medical college.
The three had been arrested under different sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
MPP fires at 'Army's human shields'
Imphal, April 17 : MLA RK Anand of MPP has stated that use of innocent civilians as human shield by the Army in their ongoing Operation Summer Storm at Loktak Lake is illegal and should be condemned strongly.
Addressing a public meeting held in connection with the election campaign of Manipur Democratic Alliance's candidate Th Chaoba at Malom Bazar under his Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency today, Anand asserted that use of innocent civilians as human shield by the Army which is in violation of the existing laws in the country should be stopped.
Saying that MPP strongly condemns such conducts of the Army, he also accused the Congress and the CPI which are coalition partners of the ruling SPF Government, with giving free hands to the Army.
When the undergrounds set up their camps at the hills, the Army could do nothing and the Government remained indifferent.
But it has allowed the Army to launch operation at Loktak lake, Anand further charged.
Maintaining that Manipur is a lawless State today, Anand observed that the number of people in the State who have fallen to the bullet is more than the number of people who have been killed by AIDS.
The day would not be far when the whole Manipuri society would be wiped out, he said, adding that the Government has been encouraging such senseless killings yet pretending to be innocent and seeking the votes of the people.
People should teach a fitting lesson to the Government this time, he said.
He also charged that the Congress and its coalition partner CPI shied away from their responsibility when proposal was placed in the Assembly for taking a resolution to the effect of withdrawing Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur.
Anand categorically stated that there is no reason why the public should cast their votes in favour of Congress and CPI when the two National parties have not said anything about making the report of the Jeevan Reddy Commission public.
If the public want annihilation of the Manipuri society, they may vote for the two National parties and if Manipur is to be saved then they should support MPP candidate Th Chaoba.
MPP president Dr L Chandramani who also addressed the meeting noted that the efforts being made by the Government to acquire more land for expansion of the Tulihal Airport has given new suffering to the people even before they could overcome the suffering caused from setting up the airport at Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency.
The Government has closed its ears to the complaint of the people, he charged, adding that it is Government which has separated from the people.
Observing that the people settling along the Tiddim line are supporters of regional parties, Dr Chandramani also highlighted the notable works accomplished when MPP was at the helm of the Government in 1972 .
The popularity of Congress party has come down day by day because of its own sinful acts in the past, Dr Chandramani said.
Addressing a public meeting held in connection with the election campaign of Manipur Democratic Alliance's candidate Th Chaoba at Malom Bazar under his Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency today, Anand asserted that use of innocent civilians as human shield by the Army which is in violation of the existing laws in the country should be stopped.
Saying that MPP strongly condemns such conducts of the Army, he also accused the Congress and the CPI which are coalition partners of the ruling SPF Government, with giving free hands to the Army.
When the undergrounds set up their camps at the hills, the Army could do nothing and the Government remained indifferent.
But it has allowed the Army to launch operation at Loktak lake, Anand further charged.
Maintaining that Manipur is a lawless State today, Anand observed that the number of people in the State who have fallen to the bullet is more than the number of people who have been killed by AIDS.
The day would not be far when the whole Manipuri society would be wiped out, he said, adding that the Government has been encouraging such senseless killings yet pretending to be innocent and seeking the votes of the people.
People should teach a fitting lesson to the Government this time, he said.
He also charged that the Congress and its coalition partner CPI shied away from their responsibility when proposal was placed in the Assembly for taking a resolution to the effect of withdrawing Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur.
Anand categorically stated that there is no reason why the public should cast their votes in favour of Congress and CPI when the two National parties have not said anything about making the report of the Jeevan Reddy Commission public.
If the public want annihilation of the Manipuri society, they may vote for the two National parties and if Manipur is to be saved then they should support MPP candidate Th Chaoba.
MPP president Dr L Chandramani who also addressed the meeting noted that the efforts being made by the Government to acquire more land for expansion of the Tulihal Airport has given new suffering to the people even before they could overcome the suffering caused from setting up the airport at Naoriya Pakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency.
The Government has closed its ears to the complaint of the people, he charged, adding that it is Government which has separated from the people.
Observing that the people settling along the Tiddim line are supporters of regional parties, Dr Chandramani also highlighted the notable works accomplished when MPP was at the helm of the Government in 1972 .
The popularity of Congress party has come down day by day because of its own sinful acts in the past, Dr Chandramani said.
In the Indian election, 700m voters, 28 days, 250,000 police: world's biggest democratic poll begins
• Gandhi's ruling Congress party remains favourite
• Big players expected to seek coalition partners
• Big players expected to seek coalition partners
When voters in parts of central and eastern India go to the polls today it will mark the start of the largest democratic ballot in history, a rolling wave of voting in five phases that will stretch over a month and demand formidable security measures, given the twin threats posed by Maoist rebels and jihadi terrorists.
To get some idea of the scale consider this: 43 million citizens, more than the adult population of England, have been added to the electoral roll since 2004. More than a million electronic voting machines are to be deployed at 828,000 polling stations. No voter will be more than 2km from a ballot box.
Elections can be violent. In the first phase of polls five years ago more than 20 people died. Although the central government has a million-man army, most election security is handled by a 250,000-strong paramilitary force.
In the light of the terrorist attack in Mumbai last year election policing has been beefed up, and the Indian Premier League, the Twenty20 cricket competition, has been shifted to South Africa as it clashed with the polls.
Ever since the Congress party and the Gandhi family lost their grip on power in 1989 no single party has been able to run India. At the last election the Congress party took only 145 seats out of 543, with 26% of the vote. It took office by sharing power with partners.
Despite the arrival of coalition politics, turnout has remained stable at around 60% and poor minorities are more likely to vote than anyone else.
There are three main groupings: the United Progressive Alliance, dominated by the Congress party; the National Democratic Alliance, built around the Bharatiya Janata Dal; and the Third Front, centred on the Communists. This means that, unlike in Britain or the US, the election will almost certainly not be dominated by a single personality. In an opinion poll this year for the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, a Delhi thinktank, no leader enjoyed 25% approval as a possible prime minister.
The most popular leader is probably Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress party. Gandhi, 63, who was born in Italy, has proved an astute politician, winning the last election against the odds but refusing to become prime minister, knowing her foreign birth would become too hot an issue. Instead she appointed Manmohan Singh as prime minister, leaving him to formulate policy while she handled the complex deal-making involved in coalition building. She also brought in her son Rahul, 38, who has begun to rebuild the party. Her daughter Priyanka, 37, is a star campaigner who draws huge crowds but so far has not contested an election.
The Congress party, say pundits, is the favourite because it is in power and can point to tangible achievements. For example, it pushed through big pay rises for 4.5 million government employees this year, engendering goodwill in urban areas.
The elite applauded Singh for winning a knife-edge parliamentary vote last year in which he secured a nuclear deal with the US that allowed India to keep its atomic weapons and still be sold nuclear reactors. Most important perhaps in terms of votes, the Congress coalition also set up the first social security scheme in India, guaranteeing 100 days of work to poor households in the countryside. Although the cost is estimated at 400bn rupees (£5.4bn) this year, it should bring in votes among India's 600 million agricultural workforce.
"This scheme has been a real winner for the Congress," said Manoj Joshi, a political columnist. "There is a better mood in the countryside. Some of this is because of good monsoons, but Congress will get the votes."
In the opposite camp is the Bharatiya Janata party, led by Lal Krishna Advani, 81. The party's pollsters say it should win votes based on three main issues: terror attacks, the dynastic politics of the Congress party and the appeasement of minorities, especially Muslims.
These three issues were fused in the uproar over speeches by Varun Gandhi, 29, the great grandson of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Although a Gandhi, he has become a mascot for the BJP. In March the budding poet told cheering crowds in a marginal constituency that he would cut the "head of Muslims" (sic) and if anyone raised a finger against Hindus he would "cut that hand".
Another powerful line of attack is that India's economic growth, which has been at 8% for five years, never reached the ordinary man. "What has [he] seen? Price rises, joblessness and poverty," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, an aide to Advani.
However, the real power lies with the regional parties. Congress and the BJP square up in only seven out of 28 states. In almost every other state, the contest boils down to one of the national parties facing a local politician.
The most important of these is likely to be Kumari Mayawati. Her dedicated cadre of workers from the Dalit group (once known as untouchables), and her wooing of the upper castes created an upset in 2007 when her party swept to power in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Her policies are claimed to be about social justice but in reality are designed to capture jobs through quotas for her supporters. Mayawati's victory in the northern state, which has 80 seats and is considered a bellwether of public opinion, was a political earthquake.
Analysts say Mayawati's significance is the possible emergence of a third national party. If the regional parties coalesce around her, said Mahesh Rangarajan, a political commentator, she could be the "fulcrum of a new power arrangement". If Mayawati gets 40 or more seats, "she is possibly prime minister", he added.
• This article was amended on Thursday 16 April 2009. In the article above we referred to Kumari Mayawati's "untouchable workers". This group of people were known simply as "untouchables". This has been amended.
To get some idea of the scale consider this: 43 million citizens, more than the adult population of England, have been added to the electoral roll since 2004. More than a million electronic voting machines are to be deployed at 828,000 polling stations. No voter will be more than 2km from a ballot box.
Elections can be violent. In the first phase of polls five years ago more than 20 people died. Although the central government has a million-man army, most election security is handled by a 250,000-strong paramilitary force.
In the light of the terrorist attack in Mumbai last year election policing has been beefed up, and the Indian Premier League, the Twenty20 cricket competition, has been shifted to South Africa as it clashed with the polls.
Ever since the Congress party and the Gandhi family lost their grip on power in 1989 no single party has been able to run India. At the last election the Congress party took only 145 seats out of 543, with 26% of the vote. It took office by sharing power with partners.
Despite the arrival of coalition politics, turnout has remained stable at around 60% and poor minorities are more likely to vote than anyone else.
There are three main groupings: the United Progressive Alliance, dominated by the Congress party; the National Democratic Alliance, built around the Bharatiya Janata Dal; and the Third Front, centred on the Communists. This means that, unlike in Britain or the US, the election will almost certainly not be dominated by a single personality. In an opinion poll this year for the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, a Delhi thinktank, no leader enjoyed 25% approval as a possible prime minister.
The most popular leader is probably Sonia Gandhi, president of the Congress party. Gandhi, 63, who was born in Italy, has proved an astute politician, winning the last election against the odds but refusing to become prime minister, knowing her foreign birth would become too hot an issue. Instead she appointed Manmohan Singh as prime minister, leaving him to formulate policy while she handled the complex deal-making involved in coalition building. She also brought in her son Rahul, 38, who has begun to rebuild the party. Her daughter Priyanka, 37, is a star campaigner who draws huge crowds but so far has not contested an election.
The Congress party, say pundits, is the favourite because it is in power and can point to tangible achievements. For example, it pushed through big pay rises for 4.5 million government employees this year, engendering goodwill in urban areas.
The elite applauded Singh for winning a knife-edge parliamentary vote last year in which he secured a nuclear deal with the US that allowed India to keep its atomic weapons and still be sold nuclear reactors. Most important perhaps in terms of votes, the Congress coalition also set up the first social security scheme in India, guaranteeing 100 days of work to poor households in the countryside. Although the cost is estimated at 400bn rupees (£5.4bn) this year, it should bring in votes among India's 600 million agricultural workforce.
"This scheme has been a real winner for the Congress," said Manoj Joshi, a political columnist. "There is a better mood in the countryside. Some of this is because of good monsoons, but Congress will get the votes."
In the opposite camp is the Bharatiya Janata party, led by Lal Krishna Advani, 81. The party's pollsters say it should win votes based on three main issues: terror attacks, the dynastic politics of the Congress party and the appeasement of minorities, especially Muslims.
These three issues were fused in the uproar over speeches by Varun Gandhi, 29, the great grandson of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Although a Gandhi, he has become a mascot for the BJP. In March the budding poet told cheering crowds in a marginal constituency that he would cut the "head of Muslims" (sic) and if anyone raised a finger against Hindus he would "cut that hand".
Another powerful line of attack is that India's economic growth, which has been at 8% for five years, never reached the ordinary man. "What has [he] seen? Price rises, joblessness and poverty," said Sudheendra Kulkarni, an aide to Advani.
However, the real power lies with the regional parties. Congress and the BJP square up in only seven out of 28 states. In almost every other state, the contest boils down to one of the national parties facing a local politician.
The most important of these is likely to be Kumari Mayawati. Her dedicated cadre of workers from the Dalit group (once known as untouchables), and her wooing of the upper castes created an upset in 2007 when her party swept to power in India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. Her policies are claimed to be about social justice but in reality are designed to capture jobs through quotas for her supporters. Mayawati's victory in the northern state, which has 80 seats and is considered a bellwether of public opinion, was a political earthquake.
Analysts say Mayawati's significance is the possible emergence of a third national party. If the regional parties coalesce around her, said Mahesh Rangarajan, a political commentator, she could be the "fulcrum of a new power arrangement". If Mayawati gets 40 or more seats, "she is possibly prime minister", he added.
• This article was amended on Thursday 16 April 2009. In the article above we referred to Kumari Mayawati's "untouchable workers". This group of people were known simply as "untouchables". This has been amended.
Boycott I: Mani shunned
 |
| Mani Charenamei |
Imphal, April 16 : The Thoubal District Development and Demand Council, an organisation formed by voters of eight Assembly constituencies today announced that it would boycott Mani Charenamei, who is seeking re-election from Outer Manipur constituency.
The president of the council, Sougrakpam Roben, said the council decided to boycott Charenamei, who is contesting on a Peoples Democratic Alliance ticket, for advocating Naga unification in his election campaign. The announcement came on the eve of tomorrow’s polling in the constituency.
Seven Assembly constituencies in Thoubal district — Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Hiyanglam, Khangabok, Wabagai, Kakching and Sugunu and Imphal East’s Jiribam — are included in Outer. The majority of the voters in these constituencies are Meiteis.
As the constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes, other tribals under the banner of the council have fighting for the right to contest elections in the Outer.
The council is also demanding the creation of one more Lok Sabha seat out of the eight constituencies, which has a total of 207,888 voters. Charenamei is openly campaign for the unification of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas and he promised voters that he would continue to fight for Naga unification if re-elected.
By promising Naga integration, Charenamei has been targeting Naga voters, who are a majority in this constituency. However, a boycott may not have much impact as Charenamei could garner only 2,224 votes in the last election. But he is likely to get the support of the Scheduled Tribe voters in the eight Assembly constituencies, particularly the Nagas.
The council did not support any particular candidate but its president appealed to the voters to vote for candidates who could fight any design to break Manipur’s territorial integrity.
“Mani openly said he was elected by the Nagas, so he would work for the Nagas in Parliament. This is very unfortunate because he is not representing only the Nagas but various communities living in his constituency,” Roben said.
Nine candidates are in the fray in this constituency. The others are Thangso Baite (Congress), M. Yamkhongam (RJD), Thangkhangin Ngaite (Lok Jana Shakti Party), Rose Mangshi Haokip (Independent), Lamlalmoi Gangte (Independent) L.B. Sona (NCP), D. Loli Adanee (BJP) and Valley Rose Hungyo (Independent).
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