Imphal: One of the oldest political parties in India, the Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has entered the electoral fray by putting up its candidate in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency elections slated on April 19.
The Election Committee of the MPP has announced the official nomination of Rajkumar Somendro Singh, popularly known as Kaiku, as their candidate for the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha Parliamentary Election, 2024.
This is the second time that Kaiku, the film star turned politician to fight in the electoral battle in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.
In the last Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, he fought as an independent candidate but couldn’t capture the seat.
Founded in 1968, MPP has formed governments in the state in three different regimes 1972-73, 1974, and 1990-1992.
Interestingly, in the 60-member Manipur legislative assembly, the MPP has not a single legislator.
Kaiku had previously served as a member of the BJP, having joined the party ahead of the 2022 polls along with several other members from the film fraternity.
Kaiku was also the vice president of Lok Janshakti Party, Manipur unit. He resigned from the BJP on September 27, 2023.
Moreover, the MPP which was once recognized by the Election Commission of India (ECI) currently does not exist anymore in the record of the ECI.
This came to light after an RTI reply from the principal secretary of ECI dated February 22, 2023.