Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi is all set to be elected unopposed to Manipur‘s lone Rajya Sabha seat after emerging as the sole candidate in the election process.
The scrutiny of nomination papers was completed on June 9, with Returning Officer and Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretary Rohit Sapam confirming that Sharda Devi’s documents were found to be valid. With no other nominations in the fray, her election has become a formality.
The BJP leader filed her nomination for the Upper House seat from Manipur and is expected to create history as only the second woman Parliamentarian from the state after Kim Gangte.
Sharda Devi, a resident of Brahmapur New Thumbuthong in Imphal East district, is the wife of Adhikarimayum Yasobanta Sharma. Her candidature received a major boost after the Congress decided not to field a candidate for the election, effectively clearing the path for an uncontested victory.
Once formally declared elected, she will also become only the second Rajya Sabha representative from Manipur to secure the seat without facing a contest. The late Abdul Salam of the Congress had previously been elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in 2014.
Sharda Devi will succeed BJP Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, whose term in the Upper House is scheduled to end on June 21.
The election comes against the backdrop of a 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly that currently has 58 sitting members due to vacancies in the Tadubi and Thanlon constituencies. The BJP remains the dominant force in the House with 36 legislators, followed by the National People’s Party (NPP) with six members, Naga People’s Front (NPF) with five, and Congress with five. The Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) has two MLAs, while the Janata Dal (United) and two Independent legislators make up the remaining strength of the Assembly.
Political observers view Sharda Devi’s impending election as another significant milestone for women’s representation in Manipur’s parliamentary politics.