As many as 24 of the 55 candidates contesting the first phase Manipur Assembly elections 2022 in Imphal West on February 28 are first time candidates.
Imphal West district has 13 assembly constituencies, all of which will go to polls in the first phase of the state assembly election slated for February 28. From the 13 assembly constituencies, 56 candidates from different political parties had filed their nominations till February 8.
However, Independent candidate from Langthabal assembly constituency Pukhrambam Somojit Singh withdrew his candidature on Friday, reducing the total number of candidates to 55.
Sekmai (SC) assembly constituency with eight candidates has the highest number of candidates in fray for Imphal West.
Of the 55 candidates, five candidates are under 35 years of age while two are above 75.
Twenty-six-year-old Ningthoujam Popilal Singh from Sekmai assembly constituency is the youngest candidate in the district.
Okram Joy Singh of the Indian National Congress from Langthabal assembly constituency is the oldest among the candidates in Imphal West district. He is 80.
Imphal West has six women candidates contesting from different assembly constituencies. The six woman candidates are 77-year-old Aribam Pramodini Devi of INC from Keishamthong assembly constituency; Independent candidate Maharabam Anita Devi from Sekmai (SC) assembly constituency; Pukhrambam Sumati Devi of the NPP from Lamsang assembly constituency; Khoirom Binarani Devi of NCP from Konthoujam assembly constituency; Akoijam Mirabai Devi of INC from Patsoi assembly constituency and Sagolshem Kebi Devi of BJP from Langthabal assembly constituency.
Among the 55 candidates, Independent candidate from Keishamthong assembly constituency Sapam Nishikant is the richest in the fray, while the youngest candidate Ningthoujam Popilal Singh is also the poorest candidate. Popilal, who studied BA from Liberal College, Luwangshangbam, according to his affidavit, has identified himself as a cultivator without any source of income.