Manipur
Maheshwar Thounaojam, national secretary of the Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A), submits his nomination paper for the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

Imphal: Young and energetic film star turned politician, Maheshwar Thounaojam, who is also the national secretary of the Republican Party of India-Athawale (RPI-A), a constituent in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has submitted his nomination paper to contest the April 19 election for the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

He submitted his nomination paper as a candidate of the RPI-A at the office of the Returning Officer (RO), 1-Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Lamphelpat Office, Imphal West on Wednesday.

Maheshwar, a resident of Imphal West district is the second candidate to file nomination for the 1-Inner Manipur Constituency seat.

Notably, on March 25, the candidate from the Manipur People’s Party, Rajkumar Somendro Singh @ Kaiku, s/o (L) Rajkumar Modhusana Singh of Thangmeiband Maisnam Leikai of Imphal West filed his nomination for the ensuing 18th Lok Sabha Elections in the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

For the first time, the RPI (Athawale),  which is at the helm of the power as a part of the NDA in the centre has put up its candidate for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency election slated on April 19. In the 2019 state assembly election, Maheshwar fought in the Keishamthong assembly segment but failed to capture the seat.

Talking to newsmen, Maheshwar said that protecting the interest of Manipur is more important than the party’s (RPI) ideology, adding, “I joined RPI by strictly abiding with my ethics and principles.”

Scrutiny of the submitted papers will take place on March 28 followed by withdrawal of candidature by March 30.