Congress Withdraws from Manipur Rajya Sabha Election Race

IMPHAL, June 8: The Congress has decided not to enter the race for Manipur’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, citing a lack of adequate strength in the state Assembly ahead of the June 18 election.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee held at Congress Bhavan in Imphal on Saturday. Party leaders resolved against fielding a nominee for the upcoming election to the Upper House of Parliament.

With only five legislators in the 60-member Assembly, the Congress falls short of the minimum requirement needed to propose a candidate. Election rules mandate the support of at least six MLAs for a valid nomination.

The current strength of the Assembly stands at 58 following the end of the terms of two members. The BJP remains the dominant force with 36 MLAs, while the National People’s Party has six members and the Naga People’s Front five. The remaining seats are held by the Congress, Kuki People’s Alliance, Janata Dal (United), and Independent legislators.

Earlier this week, the BJP named Adhikarimayum Sarda Devi, president of its Manipur unit, as its candidate for the biennial Rajya Sabha polls. She became the first woman to lead the party’s state unit when she assumed the post in 2021.

As per the election schedule, nominations can be filed until June 8, scrutiny will take place on June 9, and candidates may withdraw their papers until June 11. Voting, if required, will be held on June 18.

The seat is currently represented by Leishemba Sanajaoba, whose six-year term concludes on June 21. In the previous Rajya Sabha election from the state in 2014, Congress nominee Abdul Salam was elected unopposed.