IMPHAL, May 16: Contrary to the national trend of BJP’s sweeping victory, the ruling Congress party retained both the Lok Sabha seats. Although Congress candidate Dr T Meinya retained the Inner Manipur P/C seat with ease winning over his nearest rival Dr M Nara of CPI by a huge margin of 94,674 votes, Outer Manipur P/C saw a tight contest although Congress candidate Thangso Baite ultimately emerged win-ner by a margin of just 15,497 votes.
In Outer Manipur P/C NPF candidate Soso Lorho who lost to the Congress candidate got more votes than all other rivals in nine Assembly segments while Thangso Baite led in 15 Assembly segments. While sitting MP Thangso Baite got 2,96,618 votes, NPF’s Soso Lorho secured 2,81,121 votes.
It was the eight valley Assembly constituencies including Jiribam which tilted the political fortunes of INC and NPF candidates in favour of the former. Whereas Thangso Baite got 1,06,120 votes in these eight Assembly segments, Soso Lorho secured just 5358 votes.
On the other hand, Soso Lorho secured lion’s share of votes in Karong, Mao, Tadu-bi, Tamei, Chandel, Tengnoupal, Phungyar, Ukhrul and Chingai Assembly segments. The total number of votes cast in these Assembly segments in favour of Soso Lorho is 2,37,637 while Thangso Baite managed to secure 55,360 votes.
The INC candidate got more votes than all other rivals in Saikul, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Nungba, Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Henglep, Churachandpur, Saikot and Singhat.
In Inner Manipur P/C INC’s Dr Th Meinya led in 25 Assembly segments and CPI’s Dr Nara in seven Assembly segments while BJP’s Dr RK Ranjan secured maximum votes in three Assembly segments.
Whereas Dr Meinya secured 2,92,102 votes, Dr Nara secured 1,97,428 votes. Dr Nara secured greater number of votes than the Congress rival in Uripok, Sagolband, Keishamthong, Langthabal, Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and Wangoi Assembly segments.
Dr Meinya got highest votes of 18,014 in Thoubal A/C and second highest of 14,524 votes in Wangkhem. Dr Nara secured the maximum of 10,938 votes in Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and second highest of 9421 votes in Keishamthong A/C.
Altogether 5298 voters pressed the NOTA (none of the above) button in Inner Manipur P/C with 2206 voters not prefering any of the candidates who contested in Outer Manipur P/C.
Meanwhile, Returning Officers concerned issued certificates to the re-elected MPs with triumphant Congress candidate Thangso Baite formally recieving the certificate from the RO/DC (Thoubal) at around 9.30 pm while Dr Meinya was officially declared elected at around 9 pm by the RO.
In another development, JD (United) candidate in Outer MPC Lien Gangte complained to the RO when number of votes after the counting was found to be more than the number cast on the day of the franchise. In a different case in Thongju A/C votes could not be counted as the EVM developed technical snag.
As both the cases were referred to the ECI, the latter taking into account that the number of votes in said cases would have no affect on the final outcome declared the complaints as null and void.
TSE.
