IMPHAL — Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Manipur ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Anticipating his visit, preparation is almost complete at Hafta Kangjeibung ground in the state capital on Saturday.
Amit Shah is expected to be in Manipur for a few hours on April 15. As a star campaigner, Shah is expected to address a rally at the Hafta Kangjeibung ground at Palace Gate in the Imphal East district, followed by a brief state party office inauguration at Keishampat in the Imphal West district, according to party sources.
Manipur is set to go for Lok Sabha polls in two phases on April 19 and April 26, while the counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Manipur BJP has nominated former state education minister, T Basanta Kumar, as its candidate for the Inner Manipur seat, which encompasses valley districts including Imphal. It has decided to support Naga People’s Front candidate Kachui Timothy Zimik in the Outer Manipur seat.
The opposition Congress has fielded Prof. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam for the Inner Manipur seat and Alfred Kanngam Arthur for the Outer Manipur seat.
Meanwhile, the president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), Kh Devbrata, on Thursday criticised Shah’s expected visit to Manipur, saying that it came after more than 300 days, even though the Home Minister had promised to return with a solution within 10 days to the state’s crisis during his last visit in June 2023.
A few days ago, INDIA bloc in Manipur announced to boycott Shah’s visit to the state.
The state convenor of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Th. Inaocha, alleged that the prime minister’s remark on the Manipur crisis in an interview with The Assam Tribune newspaper was unfortunate and that it lacked responsibility instead of resolving the crisis.
