Of the 12 sitting MLAs of Congress party, six of them including MPCC president N Loken of Nambol constituency and CWC member Gaikhangam of Nungba constituency were defeated by BJP candidates.
The remaining four Congress candidates are Ak Mirabai of Patsoi AC, former MPCC president TN Haokip of Saikot AC, Alfred K Arthur of Ukhrul and Md Fajur Rahim of Wabagai AC.
Meanwhile, former chief minister O Ibobi accused the BJP of disrupting free and fair elections by using money and muscle power to lure and intimidate voters.
“BJP has murdered democracy,” said Ibobi who is also the CLP leader while speaking to the media after collecting his electoral victory certificate from the office of RO, Thoubal AC in Thoubal DC office complex.
With 15,085 votes, Ibobi defeated his closest rival and BJP candidate Leitanthem Basanta, who secured 12,002 votes.
“The result of the election is the verdict of the public and should be respected as such, but at the same time the public should remember the many reports of pre-poll violence and the disruption of free and fair elections,” Ibobi said.
Mentioning the reports of insurgent groups taking over polling booths in the hills areas and the pre-poll violence in the valley areas, the CLP leader blamed BJP’s “undemocratic” actions for the defeat of six Congress candidates.
Loken was defeated by BJP candidate Th Basantakumar who contested the election for the first time with a margin of 3,060 votes, while Gaikhangam was defeated by BJP candidate Dinganglun Gangmei who is a retired IAS officer with a margin of 3,786 votes. Basantakumar got 16,885 and Loken got 13,825.
Miraibai was defeated by S Kunjakeshor of BJP who lost to her in the last 2017 Assembly election. This time Kunjakeshor won with a margin of 687 votes. Kunjakeshor got 12,186 votes and Mirabai got 11,499 votes.
Alfred was defeated by NPF candidate Ram Muivah with a margin of 842 votes. Ram Muivah got 15,503 votes while Alfred got 14,561 votes.
Surprisingly, veteran politician TN Haokip was in the third position in Saikot with 10,250 votes. BJP candidate Paolienlal Haokip won the seats defeating his closest rival Khaipao Haokip of NPP with a margin of 2,366 votes. Paolienlal got 18,457 votes and Khaipao got 12, 586 votes.
