Congress-CPI alliance going strong in Manipur

Imphal, Feb 27 (UNI) The Congress was shown the door in Punjab and Uttarakhand, but Manipur came as a silver lining as the ruling party along with its alliance partner CPI notched up 15 seats of the 35 results of which have been declared so far.

The RJD carved a niche for itself in this North Eastern state, making its presence felt bagging three seats. Its candidate Hellaluddin Khan was a giant killer as he humbled Speaker Maniruddin Sheikh of the Congress by a margin of 280 votes. But the RJD received a setback when former Chief Minister and state party president and W Nipamacha Singh was defeated by S Joy of the NCP by 2000 votes from Wangoi.

Of the 35 seats declared till now, the Congress took 13 to its kitty and the CPI two, while the Manipur People's Party (MPP) and the NCP were giving a hot chase bagging five and four seats respectively, the RJD emerged victorious in three and the National People's Party (NPP) in one and the Independents seven.

Among the heavyweights, who had booked a seat in the ninth Assembly, were Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who defeated sitting MLA L Tomba of the MPP by a margin of 11,077 votes from Thoubal constituency and former Chief Minister and NCP president Radhabinod Koijam, who defeated his nearest Congress rival Jyotin Waikhom by a margin of about 1000 votes from Thangmeiband constituency.

National People's Party (NPP) president V Hangkhanlian, who defeated his nearest BJP rival Zabiaksang by 4800 votes from Thanlon seat.

Congress president Gaikhangam was reelected from 54 Nungba AC constituency, defeating his nearest rival Gangmumei Kamei (Independent) by a margin of 5000 votes, and MPP's O Joy, one of the seniormost members of the House, retained his Langthabal seat, defeating Rebika Naoren of the NCP by 1500 votes.

Independent candidate Sapam Kunjakeswor created a ripple when he defeated MPP president Dr L Chandramani from Patsoi by 1644 votes.

The Chief Minister, also contesting from Khangabok constituency, had created a record of sorts for being the first person in the history of Manipur to have run the state for five years at a stretch.

UNI