LS polls: JNU professor, former MLA nominated for 2 seats in Manipur

Imphal: In an official release, the Congress nominated JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and former MLA Alfred Kanngam Arthur for the Lok Sabha seats in Inner and Outer Manipur, respectively, in the 2019 elections. According to a statement released by K Venugopal, general secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the decision was made by the party's Central Election Committee.

Akoijam gained popularity for his academic insights into the ethnic violence that broke out in the state last year.

Arthur, a former party MLA, hails from Tangkhul Naga-dominated Ukhrul district.

Arthur will fight against Naga People's Front (NPF) nominee and former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer K Timothy Zimik in the Outer Manipur seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP has announced its support for ally NPF in the Outer Manipur seat.

In the Inner Manipur seat, however, the party has yet to announce its candidate.

Party sources said that apart from incumbent MP RK Ranjan, state party president A Sharda Devi and Rajya Sabha MP L Sanajaoba are likely contenders.

Lok Sabha elections to the two seats in the state will be held in two phases.

The Inner Manipur seat, along with 15 assembly segments of Outer Manipur, will go to polls on April 19. Polling for the remaining 13 assembly segments of Outer Manipur will be held on April 26.

So far, no candidate has filed any nomination in the state.

While Inner Manipur is dominated by Imphal Valley-based Meiteis, hills-based Kukis and Nagas form the majority in the Outer Manipur seat.

With PTI inputs