IMPHAL, Feb 4: The state units of Janata Dal (United) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) have decided to render political support to independent candidate Kh. Ranjit Singh in the ensuing bye-election of Konthoujam assembly constituency.
Kh. Ranjit was a senior lecturer of DM College of Arts, Imphal, who has recently resigned from the lectureship following non-acceptance of his application for voluntary retirement.
Speaking to media-persons today, the state president of JD (U), M. Tombi stated that the Party has decided to support the independent candidate Ranjit with the objective of setting up honest and politically upright leaders who will bring real development to the state.
The JD (U) has been campaigning for development and welfare of the people regardless of narrow religious or political outlook. The thumping victory of JD (U) in the recent general election of Bihar has clearly exhibited the party’s commitment and concern for the welfare of the people, he noted.
Tombi further stated that Bihar and Manipur are similar in terms of lawlessness and underdevelopment. However, JD (U) under the leadership of Nitish Kumar has reformed Bihar but Manipur is still in a deplorable condition under the Congress led SPF government.
Ranjit will bring a big blow to both Congress and Trinamool in the ensuing bye-election of Konthoujam, the state president asserted.
Stating that he has resigned from his job for the sake of the people, Ranjit said that Konthoujam has been one of the backward assembly constituencies in the state owing to the apathy of the past representatives who had siphoned off much of the development funds.
He accused former Speaker and MLA of Konthoujam A/C (late) Sapam Budhichandra of misappropriation of Rs 50-60 lakhs from the local area development fund and highlighted failures in PDS and other welfare schemes.
On the other hand, the state president of CPI (M), Sarat Salam stated that the independent candidate has been supported by the Party mainly to overthrow the Congress and Trinamool both of which are partners of UPA government at the centre. The Congress Party of the state is notorious for its corruption and misrule while the state Trinamool Congress is a conglomeration of outcast politicians who still have controversies over their leadership, he said.
Sarat further appealed to the people to cast their votes for the independent candidate so as to usher the state to new era of development and positive changes.
