Hiyanglam Heads For Multi-Cornered Contest

Imphal: Six candidates have filed their nomination papers for the byelection to Hiyanglam constituency in Manipur’s Thoubal district scheduled on October 17.
The bypoll was necessitated following the death of Trinamool Congress MLA Maibam Kunjo Singh on August 11. The late MLA’s son, Maibam Dhanabir Singh, is fighting on a BJP ticket.
The two factions of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress have nominated their respective candidates — Y Radheshyam Singh and Y Thambou Singh.While Thokchom Laiba is contesting on a Manipur State Congress Party ticket, the regional Manipur People’s Party has fielded Mayengbam Amutombi Singh. Laiba filed his papers on Saturday, the last day of filing nominations. Scrutiny of the six candidates would be held on Monday, while last date for withdrawal of papers is October 1.
Congress, which nominated former MLA Elangbam Dwijamani, said the party would fight the bypoll on key agendas affecting the state — unity, development, peace, ILPS and territorial integrity.
Deputy CM and Manipur PCC president Gaikhangam exuded strong confidence that Dwijamani would win the seat as people are happy with the Congress-ruled government in the state. Of the 60-member Manipur assembly, Congress has 47 MLAs.
For BJP, the fight is an acid test for it in the wake of the NDA coming to power at the Centre. The president of state BJP unit said the party would lay emphasis on all-round rural development in the constituency.
“We have already started our campaigning in the constituency and the people’s positive response towards BJP and our candidate is overwhelming,” the party’s secretary (media affairs), L Bashanta Sharma, said on Sunday.
“We have requested five top party leaders, including home minister Rajnath Singh, to join the campaign,” Bashanta added.