Manipur BJP prez files nomination for RS polls

Imphal: Manipur BJP president A Sharda Devi on Monday filed her nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election before the returning officer at the Manipur assembly secretariat in the presence of chief minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, BJP legislators, senior party leaders, and members of allied parties.

Sharda Devi filed three sets of nomination papers, each backed by BJP MLAs.

With no other candidate entering the fray for Manipur’s lone Rajya Sabha seat, her election is likely to be uncontested.

The Election Commission has scheduled the Rajya Sabha election in Manipur for June 18. The last date for filing nominations was June 8, while scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on June 9. Candidates can withdraw their nominations until June 11. Polling, if required, will be conducted from 9am to 4pm on June 18, with counting of votes commencing at 5pm the same day.

After filing her nomination, Devi thanked PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and the BJP leadership for reposing faith in her.

Referring to relief efforts during the ethnic violence in the state, she said, “We had set up relief camps especially catering to the needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers affected by the violence. If elected, I intend to raise women-related issues in Parliament.”

She said she would also raise concerns related to safeguarding Manipur’s territorial integrity and issues affecting the people of the state.

Rajya Sabha elections on June 18 are also scheduled in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Rajasthan.