IMPHAL, Feb 18 � A Trinamool Congress (TC) candidate was elected in a by-election for the first time in Manipur�s political history. TC candidate K Sarat defeated his nearest rival and Congress candidate Dr S Ranjan by a margin of 655 votes in the by election to Konthoujam Assembly constituency in Imphal West district on Thursday.
Sarat polled 9,592 votes while Dr Ranjan got 8,937 votes. The lone independent candidate Kh Ranjit received 3,831 votes. Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh reacting to the defeat of the Congress candidate told the media persons that his government honours the people�s verdict.
Anti-incumbency is a factor (for the defeat), the Chief Minister said. It indicates that some areas are lagging behind in the development works. But this will not impact the forthcoming Manipur Assembly election which is expected to be held in early part of next year.
It may be mentioned that Manipur had witnessed five by-elections including in Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh�s wife Landhoni�s Khangabok seat, Deputy Speaker Th Lokeshwor�s Khundrakpam seat, Moirang and Yaiskul seats.
Yesterday�s by-election was necessitated following the demise of sitting MLA and Manipur Assembly Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra in September last year.
In the last Assembly election in 2007, Dr Budhichandra of Congress had defeated National People�s Party candidate Konthoujam Sarat by a margin of 84 votes only. The present party position in Manipur house of 60 include: Cong-30, MPP-5, NCP-4, CPI-4, RJD-3, Ind -10, Trinamool Congress-1.
