Imphal, October 22 2020: In the Singhat Assembly constituency, BJP candidate GS Haopu wins the seat uncontested. The development came after lone Independent candidate Chinlunthang today withdrew his nomination, ensuring the BJP candidate GS Haopu wins the seat without a fight.
Chinlunthang withdrew his nomination paper from the Returning officer on Thursday at about 11 AM. Notably, only two candidates namely Ex-MLA Ginsuanhau of BJP and Independent candidate Chinlunthang filed their nomination papers for Singhat AC by poll.
A BJP candidate in the last Assembly election held in 2017, Chinlunthang filed his nomination as an Independent candidate as the sitting MLA GS Haopu, who was supporting the N Biren led Government despite being a Congress MLA was awarded the BJP ticket this time.
Later, GS Haopu had resigned from the MLA ship to avoid disqualification.
He was part of the group of MLAs taken to New Delhi by the Chief Minister to meet BJP leaders and inducted into the party fold.
The exact reason behind Chinlunthang ‘s withdrawal is not known. Sources close to him however said the likelihood of a violent standoff between the two candidates could be one of the reasons for his withdrawal.
However, Manipur Government appointed independent candidate Chinlunthang as Officer on Special duty in Tribal Affairs & Hills department. Letkhogin Haokip, Additional Chief Secretary (Tribal Affairs & Hills), Government issued an order regarding the appointment.
Interestingly an official letter appointing Chinlunthang as an Officer on Special Duty in the Tribal Affairs and Hills Department has gone viral on the social media. It is not clear whether the decision to withdraw his candidacy was in any connected to his earlier appointment as the OSD.
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