Manipur By-Polls: BJP Wins 2 Seats, Independent Supported By BJP Wins 1

Imphal/Kohima: Ruling BJP's candidates on Tuesday won two Assembly seats while party-supported Independent candidate won the third one in Manipur, with BJP leading in the fourth seat for which official result was yet to be out.

BJP's ally and ruling NDPP bagged one Assembly seat in Nagaland, where an Independent candidate was leading in the second seat which also went to bypolls, officials said on Tuesday.

Elections officials in Imphal said that Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Oinam Lukhoi Singh bagged 10,960 votes to win Wangoi bypoll, defeating his nearest rival Khuraijam Loken Singh of the National People's Party (NPP) by 257 votes.

The Wangoi seat witnessed a triangular contest among the BJP, NPP and the Congress nominees. The NPP is an ally of the BJP-led government in Manipur.

In the Lilong seat, BJP-supported Independent Y Antas Khan secured 17,106 votes to defeat nearest Independent rival Mohammad Abdul Nasir by 3,078 votes.

In the Wangjing-Tentha seat, BJP candidate Paonam Brojen Singh got 15,147 votes to defeat Congress rival Moirangthem Hemanta Singh by 1,560 votes.

Though the Election Commission is yet to officially declare the result in Saitu seat, BJP nominee Ngamthang Haokip was headed for a win over his Congress rival Lamtinthang Haokip by over 7,661 votes.

By-elections were held in four Assembly seats in Manipur on November 7 and two Assembly seats in Nagaland on November 3.

BJP nominee Ginsuanhau was elected unopposed from Singhat seat in Churachandpur district in Manipur on October 22 after Independent nominee Chinlunthang withdrew his candidature.

The bypolls were necessitated after Congress MLAs, elected in the 2017 elections from these five seats, resigned from the Assembly and joined the ruling BJP.

In Nagaland, ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) candidate Medo Yhokha bagged 4,773 votes to win Southern Angami-1 seat, defeating his Independent rival Seyievilie Peter Zashumo by 598 votes.

The BJP is an ally of the NDPP-led government in Nagaland.

Independent candidate T Yangseo Sangtam is leading in the Pungro-Kiphire seat over his Independent rival S Kiusumew Yimchunger by over 1,527 votes.

The by-elections were held in Southern Angami-I and Pungro-Khipre seats on November 3 after the death of sitting legislators Vikho-o Yhoshu and T Torechu respectively.

While the by-elections were held in four Assembly seats in Manipur on November 7, those for two Assembly seats in Nagaland were held on November 3.

Congratulating the winners of by-elections in Manipur, BJP's National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda tweeted, "In Manipur, with huge wave for @narendramodi Ji, BJP has won ALL FOUR seats we contested of 5 bypolls."

In Manipur, with huge wave for @narendramodi Ji, BJP has won ALL FOUR seats we contested of 5 bypolls. Heartiest congratulations to @AmitShah Ji @JPNadda Ji @blsanthosh Ji @NBirenSingh Ji @BiswajitThongam Ji @DilipSaikia4Bjp Ji. It was my privilege to be involved in the campaign. pic.twitter.com/a6WYTkmZ3X

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) November 10, 2020

Earlier, BJP VP Panda had participated in election campaigning in Manipur.

Thank you Hon' CM @NBirenSingh Ji, this success is due to the public's huge faith in @narendramodi Ji, you & your colleagues' good work, encouragement by @AmitShah Ji @JPNadda Ji @blsanthosh Ji, & teamwork between all of us, @DilipSaikia4Bjp Ji @himantabiswa Ji @ajayjamwalRSS ji https://t.co/E2dq0dqAm2

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) November 10, 2020

(With Agency Inputs)