IMPHAL: Trinamool Congress candidate Kim Gangte and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate K Zou, both the candidates from the Outer Manipur parliamentary seats, have expressed their lamentations that militants had ruled the roost in the April 9 Lok Sabha poll in Maniopur hills.
Kim Gangte, the lone female candidate from among the ten candidates vieing for the lone Manipur Outer seat told Newmai News Network this evening that the Congress used militants especially in Sadar Hills and Churachandpur district capturing her votes.
"The Congress accused the Naga People's Party (NPF) of capturing votes but here the Congress party had captured my votes especially in Kuki dominated areas using militants," alleged former MP Kim Gangte. The lone woman Lok Sabha poll contestant in Manipur hills further alleged that underground cadres barred the people from voting in several polling stations.
Aam Aadmi Party candidate K Zou too has expressed similar view. According to K Zou, Congress candidate Thangso Baite, NPF candidate Soso Lorho and NCP candidate C Doungel used both muscle and money powers in the April 9 Lok Sabha poll in Manipur hills. "Most of the people went for money," K Zou alleged. "I contesting in this poll is a case of sending a clear message of honesty and accountability. I do not like to be sent to the Parliament through money and muscle powers," said the AAP candidate. He then said people in Manipur do not know what is democracy.
Outer Parliamentary constituency of Manipur is a reserved seat for the tribals where the Nagas and the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group are the two largest communities.
There are four Naga candidates and six from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group in the fray in the Outer parliamentary constituency. The total number of voters in the constituency is 9,11,699.
Mani Charenamei (Independent), Soso Lorho (NPF), Prof Gangmumei Kamei (BJP) and Amarson Sankhil (Independent) are the four candidates hailing from the Naga community while Thangso Baite (Congress), Kim Gangte (Trinamool), K Zou (Aam Aadmi Party), C Doungel (NCP), Lien Gangte (JD-U) and Lallalmoi CPI(ML) are from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group.
Again, the total number of voters of the Nagas is 3,70,00 while that of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group stands at 3,30,00 and the rest are from the Nepalis, Meiteis and the Meitei-Pangal (Muslims).
Suisa (a Naga), Rishang Keishing (a Naga), Kim Gangte (a Chin-Kuki-Mizo), Holkhommang Haokip (a Chin-Kuki-Mizo), Mani Charenamei (a Naga), Meijinlung Kamson (a Naga) are some of the names of the Members of Parliament who once represented the Outer Manipur parliamentary (Lok Sabha) seat. The incumbent MP Thangso Baite hails from the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group.
