BJP makes its debut in Manipur, wins two assembly seats

BJP has won two assembly seats in Manipur, making its debut in the state in the by-polls held on November 21.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates Thongam Biswajit Singh and Khumukcham Joykishan won the Thongju and Thangmeiband seats respectively, defeating candidates of the ruling Congress, an election official said.

The by-elections where necessitated after the Speaker of Manipur Assembly disqualified the two seating members from these two constituencies in May this year. An 85 percent voter turnout was recorded in the segment.

His rivals Sarve Satyanarayana (Congress) secured 1,56,315 votes and BJP-TDP candidate Pagidipati Devaiah polled 1,30,178 votes. Biswajit secured 14,606 votes and Koijam 11,393 votes. A total of 78 voters opted for NOTA.

He continued, the State is moving towards development under the Congress.

In the Thangmeiband constituency, Khumukcham Joykishan of the BJP won 12,095 votes, while Jotin Waikhom of the Congress got 10,198 votes. Chaoba Singh told IANS. The Manipur BJP is celebrating the victory with a grand function at its office in Imphal’s Nitaipat Chuthek, opposite to Raj Bhavan this evening.

The Congress, he said will certainly win both the Tongju and Thangmeiband seats.

“Although our candidates lost in the by-elections (in Meghalaya and Manipur) by narrow margins, we are deeply concerned”.

Summary: IMPHAL: The fate of five candidates vying for two assembly seats Thangmeiband and Thongju in Imphal will be decided on Tuesday even as repolling in one booth in Thongju passed peacefully on Monday with over 80% turnout.

He further said that the recent bye-election is a crucial election for both parties and the results which will be declared tomorrow will be an indication of the government to come after the 2017 election. The BJP now has two members.