Nishikant, 3500 supporters quit BJP

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 1: Nishikant Singh Sapam and over 3500 members of Team Nishikant including two Corporators and one Ward Member of Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) have resigned from BJP.
Soon after he was denied BJP ticket, Nishikant declared that he would contest the State Assembly election in Keishamthong AC as an Independent candidate.
IMC Ward No 11 Corporator Maisnam Joychandra, Ward No 13 Corporator Oinam Romio and Ward No 13 Member Huiningshumbam Shantikumar are among the Team Nishikant members who resigned from BJP today.
Their resignation from BJP was formally announced at a press meet held at the Sega Road Thouda Bhabok Leikai residence of Nishikant today.
Nishikant said that the way BJP ticket was awarded to another candidate after snubbing him shocked all the members of Team Nishikant and a large number of his supporters and well wishers.
“However, instead of being disheartened, Team Nishikant and the people of Keishamthong AC have been standing firm for me. It is a matter of pride for them that we sat together and came to a unanimous decision that I contest the election as an Independent candidate”,  Nishikant said.
He said that he agreed to contest the election as an Independent candidate and thus keep his earlier declaration not to join any political party other than BJP and work with accountability without leaving any room for corruption.
He also conveyed gratitude to the two IMC Corporators and the Ward Member of Keishamthong AC who have been standing firm in his support.
Nishikant reiterated that he would work with complete transparency and accountability without leaving any room for corruption in order to bring positive changes in Keishamthong AC as well as Manipur.
To a query regarding which party he would support if elected, Nishikant said that he would decide on the matter after studying the post-poll scenario.    
The IMC Corporators and the Ward Member who resigned from BJP today said that they believed in the principle of BJP and they were hopeful that the party would award its ticket for Keishamthong AC to the most competent candidate.
“But BJP belied all our hopes. That is why we resigned from the party”, they said.
They maintained that Nishikant is the most competent among all the candidates vying for Keishamthong seat.
They exuded confidence that Nishikant would do something substantial and noticeable for Keishamthong AC if elected, albeit as an Independent candidate.