In the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Indian National Congress (INC) is considering endorsing ex-MLA Alfred Kangam Arthur for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency. Alternatively, for the Inner Constituency, they may field either JNU Associate Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam or MPCC vice-president Hareshwar Goswami.
Sources suggest that Dr. Bimol Akoijam and Hareshwar Goswami are the leading contenders for the party ticket, despite the MPCC putting forth names of four hopeful candidates for the Inner Manipur PC in the Lok Sabha election.
During an afternoon conversation with this reporter at Congress Bhavan, MPCC president K Meghachandra revealed that four individuals have applied for the Congress ticket to partake in the upcoming Lok Sabha election for Inner Manipur PC.
The applicants include MPCC vice president Hareshwar Goswami, JNU Associate Professor Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, retired IAS officer Abujam Tombikanta, and MPCC senior spokesman and AICC member Ningombam Bhupenda, as disclosed by Meghachandra.
Meghachandra mentioned that the Manipur Pradesh Congress Election Committee has submitted the names of all four applicants to the AICC.
The actual recipient of the Congress ticket for Inner Manipur PC will only be revealed once the AICC unveils the list of candidates, according to Meghachandra.
AICC is anticipated to announce the Congress party’s candidate for Inner Manipur PC in the next couple of days. All the contenders are distinguished, renowned personalities with broad appeal. MPCC would be appreciative if the AICC grants a party ticket to any one of them, as stated by the MPCC president.
MPCC has also unanimously agreed to endorse the candidate chosen by the AICC, he affirmed.
Under the leadership of K Meghachandra, leaders of MPCC frontal organizations convened a meeting today at Congress Bhavan to deliberate on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
For the Outer Manipur PC, MPCC has proposed the name of Alfred Kangam Arthur to the AICC.
Notably, Alfred Kangam Arthur secured a seat in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Ukhrul AC.
With no other individuals seeking the Congress ticket in Outer Manipur PC, Alfred Kangam Arthur is poised to secure the Congress ticket, as per Meghachandra.
However, another source disclosed that, besides Alfred Kangam Arthur, ex-MLA (Phungyar AC) Victor Keishing has also applied for the Congress ticket.
The name of Alfred Kangam Arthur was submitted to the AICC after a consensus was reached within MPCC, the source revealed.
On a different note, AICC General Secretary KC Venu-gopal disclosed names of 43 individuals who will vie for the Lok Sabha elections on Congress tickets.
The candidates unveiled today include 12 for Assam.
Gaurav Gogoi, son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, is also included in the list of candidates.
Expressing deep concern over the fact that the violent crisis stemming from May 3 last year remains unresolved, the Congress party has refrained from initiating preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, as declared by Meghachandra.
To the Congress party, the prolonged crisis is a matter of greater severity than the Lok Sabha election. Due to this crisis, the people of the State have been enduring extreme hardship, he emphasized.
Considering the dismal performance of the BJP Governments at the State and Centre, a significant portion of the populace has expressed a desire to boycott the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress party has taken serious note of this discontented sentiment, highlighted Meghachandra.
