Manipur Polls: Security Tightened Outside BJP Office After Candidates' Announcement Leads To Tensions

This comes as many BJP functionaries, who were hoping to get tickets for the upcoming polls, were left disappointed as their names did not figure in the list.

New Delhi: Hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named candidates for next month’s Manipur Assembly elections, security has been stepped up outside the saffron party’s headquarters in Imphal.

This comes as many BJP functionaries, who were hoping to get tickets for the upcoming polls, were left disappointed as their names did not figure in the list.

The effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh were burnt during the protests, which broke out after the BJP named its candidates, NDTV reported.

Holding placards in their hands, the protestors gathered in large numbers to vent their ire at the decision of the BJP central leadership.

According to reports, the BJP offices were also ransacked in various parts of the state during the protests.

Earlier in the day, the BJP announced candidates for all 60 assembly seats in Manipur.

The Manipur Chief Minister will contest the polls from the Heingang assembly constituency, while the state’s PWD Minister Thangom Biswajit Singh has been fielded from Thongju.

The ruling party has given tickets to people across various sections, including women doctors, retired IAS officers, and sportspersons.

The BJP has given tickets to three women candidates namely Soraisam Kebi Devi, SS Olish, and Nemcha Kipgen.

The saffron party has also fielded three retired IAS officers Kh. Raghumani Singh, Yengkhom Surchandra Singh, and Dinganglung Gangmei (Dipu), who had taken VRS recently.

Former footballers N Biren Singh, Letpao Haokip, and Somatai Shaiza besides martial arts player Yumnam Khemchand Singh have also been given tickets.

Polling for the Manipur Assembly will be held in two phases on February 27 and March 3.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.