Imphal: The decision by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central committee to refrain from nominating a candidate for the Outer Manipur Constituency in the upcoming Parliamentary elections of 2024 has sparked strong protests among grassroots-level workers in the state.
Instead, the BJP is throwing its support behind the candidates of the Naga People’s Front (NPF), a coalition partner of the Chief Minister Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur. Kachui Timothy Zimik has been named as the NPF candidate for the Outer Manipur seat.
Reports indicate that the workers of the BJP Senapati district in Manipur expressed their dissent by vandalizing their office located on Old Road, Senapati, on Saturday around 10:30 am.
The protestors, disappointed by the absence of a local aspirant on the party ticket, reportedly destroyed office property, including chairs and tables, disrupting regular operations and incurring financial losses necessitating repairs and replacements.
In response to the decision made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the guidance of J.P. Nadda, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also leads the BJP in the state, took to Facebook, stating, “I am pleased to announce that the BJP will be supporting the Lok Sabha candidates of the NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency for the upcoming Parliamentary elections in 2024.”
He further added, “In accordance with the directives of the Honorable National President of @BJP4India, Shri @JPNadda ji, I am pleased to announce that the BJP will extend its support to the Lok Sabha candidates of the NPP in both the seats of Meghalaya (Shillong and Tura), to the NPF in the Outer Manipur Constituency, and to NDPP in Nagaland in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections of 2024.”