Newmai News Network
Imphal | March 18
In a sigh of relief to the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur, coalition partner Naga People's Front (NPF) on Wednesday withdrew its nominee from contesting the upcoming Rajya Sabha election of Manipur.
Three candidates filed their nomination papers for contesting the election to the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Manipur, which the polling is scheduled on March 26.
The three candidates were Leishemba Sanajaoba of BJP, T Mangibabu of Congress and Honreikhui Kashung of NPF.
Even though, it is a partner of the BJP-led coalition government, NPF filed Honreikhui Kashung as party’s nominee.
However, on the last day of withdrawal of nomination on Wednesday, the NPF nominee withdrew his nomination paper.
After the NPF nominee had withdrawn the nomination paper, the election to the lone Rayja Sabha seat will be a straight fight between the BJP and the opposition Congress.
In Manipur, the Rajya Sabha MP is to be elected by the 60 legislators of Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Even though Congress emerged as the single largest party by winning 28 seats in the last assembly election held in 2017, BJP winning 21 seats formed the present coalition government.
At the time of formation of the government, N Biren Singh got the supports of four NPP legislators, four NPF legislators, one each of LJP, AITC, an independent and a Congress legislator.
Later, seven more MLAs of the Congress defected to BJP.
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