Imphal: Six candidates are set to compete in the electoral battleground for the Inner Manipur seat in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
As of March 30, 2024, three candidates representing political parties and an equal number running independently have officially declared their participation in the upcoming polls scheduled for April 19.
On the final day of nomination withdrawal, Saturday witnessed no retraction, solidifying the contenders’ lineup.
The contenders include Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam from the Indian National Congress (INC), Maheshwar Thounaojam from the Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI – A), along with Haorungbam Sarat Singh, Rajkumar Somendro Singh alias Kaiku, and Moirangthem Totomshana Nongshaba, all running independently.
In the previous 2019 elections for the Inner Manipur LS seat, RK Rajan, the BJP candidate, emerged victorious. However, in the current electoral race of 2024, RK Rajan has been denied a BJP ticket.
The polling for the Inner Manipur Constituency’s first phase on April 19 will take place from 7 am to 4 pm across 32 assembly segments. Manipur, with a total of 60 assembly constituencies, sees the Inner constituency with 989,887 electors, comprising 473,531 female, 516,150 male, and 206 transgender electors.
With 1319 polling stations designated for the Inner constituency, the counting is slated for June 4, 2024.