IMPHAL, January 23 (NNN): Sitting Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur and former chief minister Rishang Keishing said today that he is not a contender for the Rajya Sabha election.
Talking to Newmai News Network this evening over phone, Rishang Keishing said, “I have no such plan to contest the Rajya Sabha poll.”
The veteran Congress leader also said that he had not applied to contest the poll. “I`m not interest to continue now,” stated Rishang Keishing who is the sitting Rajya Sabha MP for the last two consecutive terms.
Today`s comment of Rishang Keishing is significant as there have been media speculation that the Congress ‘high command’ had agreed on re-nominating him.
Two day`s ago a section of the media had reported that Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh and deputy chief minister Gaikhangam had apprised the Congress `high command` to re-nominate the sitting Rajya Sabha MP.
“I`m totally dark about this development and I`m not interest to be re-nominated,” affirmed Rishang Keishing. He dismissed the media report as just `speculation`.
It can be noted here that the poll to the lone Rajya Sabha member of Manipur will be on February 7. Nomination papers be delivered by 3 pm of January 28 and the scrutiny would be conducted on January 29 while the deadline to withdraw their names by candidates is 3 pm of January 31.