Manipur: Lok Sabha candidate receives ‘threat’ from armed group

Guwahati: North East India Development Party (NEIDP) candidate Ashang Kasar on Monday said that he was pressured by an armed group to withdraw his candidature from the reserved Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

Kasar is the first politician in Manipur to receive such a threat. Backing him, NEIDP said that there is no question of yielding to the pressure of the group, who they did not wish to name.

“The group had asked me not to contest in the ticket of the NEIDP since it is a Meitei-centric political party. However, I will contest the elections under this party’s banner,” Kasar said. He added that the group seems to have taken the step based on wrong information.

Kasar said that NEIDP is one party that will bridge the gap between the people from the hills and the valley. N Samarjit, NEIDP president, said, “Our party holds the group in high esteem. It was quite unexpected that such interference shall come. However, there is no question of backing out now.”

Monday was the last day to file nominations where a total of 14 candidates have filed nominations for the two Lok Sabha seats. The state goes will go to polls in two phases, for Outer Manipur seat on April 11 and Inner Manipur constituency on April 18.