BJP asks poll body to reject Manipur Congress candidate’s documents over affidavit controversy

Manipur Congress candidate (left) Dr. Bimol Akoijam and Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Thounaojam Basanta

Imphal/Guwahati/New Delhi:

The BJP candidate in the Manipur constituency has lodged a complaint with the election officials seeking cancellation of the Congress candidate’s nomination citing “major flaws” in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission. Sources in the Congress candidate’s legal team told NDTV that they have corrected the mistake and claimed that the BJP candidate gave a controversial color to a small matter.

BJP candidate Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh said Congress candidate Angomcha Bimol Akoijam ) Dr. filed his nomination for a “non-existent” parliamentary constituency during the Lok Sabha elections.

“…the respondent (Dr Akoijam) has submitted four nomination papers under Form 26 on March 27, 2024 to the returning officer of a non-existent constituency, namely 12th Keishamthong Parliamentary Constituency, which is not a constituency at all election to the Lok Sabha,” Mr. Singh said in his complaint to the Returning Officer, adding that this violated many provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

In his complaint, Mr. Singh said all four nomination documents submitted by Dr. Akojam contained the same errors.

“The major flaw is that the candidate in his Form 26 affidavit has wrongly written the name of the non-existent constituency from which he is contesting and filing nomination papers,” said Mr. Singh, who is also Manipur MP. said the returning officer’s complaint.

Mr Singh said the correct name of the constituency should be Inner Manipur, but Dr Akojam wrote “12th Kishamtong Parliamentary Constituency” during the Lok Sabha elections, adding that it was “not just A clerical error.”

Manipur BJP sources said Dr Akojam’s intention in mentioning the assembly constituency was not clear or whether he would contest an assembly seat in future.

Dr. Akoijam could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was switched off. However, his legal team said they have corrected the error and will explain the matter soon.

Manipur has two Lok Sabha seats – Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur. The entire inner Manipur constituency and parts of outer Manipur will go to polls on April 19. The remaining districts of Outer Manipur will go to polls on April 26. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.