Uncertainty hangs over Kuki candidate

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 22 : Although the last date for filing nomination papers in both Outer Manipur PC and Inner Manipur PC is just five days away, it is still not yet clear whether any Kuki candidate would contest the election.
As announced by the Election Commission of India, the last date for filing nomination papers is March 27 and scrutiny would be done the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is March 30.
Even though neither ITLF nor CoTU has taken up any election related initiative till date, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) is expected to join the election process, sources informed.
Although it is not yet clear whether any Kuki candidate may fight the election or not, there is a possibility of a Kuki candidate coming forward to contest the election on the last day of filing nomination papers.
If no Kuki candidate comes forward, Kuki voters may take a decision to support the candidate of a particular political party, said the sources.
Kuki organisations have been closely monitoring the situation and there are many Kuki individuals/politicians  who wish to contest the elections, according to the sources.
Kuki CSOs and some Kuki MLAs held a meeting at Churachandpur today and deliberated on the 18th Lok Sabha elections. But there is no report of any concrete decision adopted at the meeting.
If the Kuki voters are constrained to vote for the BJP candidate, they may put up certain conditions, the sources added.