Imphal, January 16 (MExN): The Congress has won the local body elections in Manipur securing a total of 176 seats while Independents got 164 securing the second position followed by BJP getting 94 seats and two by CPI.
The elections were held on January 11 in 18 Municipal Councils and eight Nagar Panchayats in the four valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur to elect 279 Councillors and 558 Ward Development Committee (WDC) members. In the remaining seats, the candidates had already been declared uncontested.
Results for the four subdivisions of Thoubal were declared in the afternoon. INC got 36 seats, 15 by BJP and 42 by Independents in the four subdivisions—Lilong, Thoubal, Kakching and Waikhong.
The results of the local body elections are likely to have a bearing on the upcoming assembly polls expected to be held in March 2017.
Meanwhile, the term of Manipur BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba had been extended by BJP National President Amit Shah so that Chaoba can direct the whole crucial electioneering process.
Recently, there were reports that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had begun looking into the multi-crore Loktak Lake scam in which the Ibobi government has been accused of misusing Rs 400 crore funded by the Centre for clearing phumdis (floating biomas) from the lake.
The BJP has also been alleging that the Congress wins elections in the state by using muscle and power.
