Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh is now an MLA from Nambol constituency
Imphal:
The BJP on Tuesday nominated Manipur Education Minister Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh for the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, dropping sitting MP and Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.
The contestant, 59 years old, is the son of former Union minister Thounaojam Chaoba Singh.
The former IPS officer is now an MLA from Nambol constituency in Bishnupur district.
The announcement comes two days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh claimed that the BJP would win by a huge margin in the state.
BJP candidate Thounaojam Basantakumar Singh is pitted against Congress candidate Angomcha Bimol Akoijam in the Inner Manipur seat.
The saffron party has decided not to contest from the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency and extended its support to Kachui Timothy Zimik, a retired Indian Revenue Service (IRS) official, who was a candidate of ally Naga People’s Front.
The Inner Manipur seat and some parts of the Outer Manipur constituency will go to polls in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining parts of the Outer Manipur seat will go to polls in phase 2 on April 26.
Those living in camps in violence-hit Manipur will be allowed to vote from their temporary settlements, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on March 16, the day the Lok Sabha election manifesto was announced.
Ethnic clashes between the Meitei and tribal Kuki communities in the northeastern state since May last year have resulted in the loss of more than 200 lives.
According to officials, more than 25,000 people have been rescued by security forces, while about 50,000 people are living in camps as a result of the unrest.
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