Manipur: ‘Maharaja’ files nomination for RS polls as BJP nominee

Imphal: ‘Maharaja’ Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur, on Friday filed his nomination papers for the ensuing Rajya Sabha (RS) elections as a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the lone seat in the state.

Chief minister N Biren Singh, works minister Th Biswajit Singh and education minister Th Radheshyam, CAF & PD minister Karam Shyam and other party members accompanied the Maharaja during the nomination process.

Soon after the nomination exercised completed, CM Biren gave his regards to the Maharaja, its party nominee for the lone seat, and wished him the best in the upcoming RS elections.

Speaking with EastMojo, the 48-year-old Maharaja expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the BJP’s central leaders led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and people of the state for their utmost trust in him.

“BJP central leaders nominated me as Rajya Sabha candidate from the state was something I had never dreamt of. But this gesture shows the amount of love the central leaders have for Manipur,” Sanajaoba said.

“I will take this opportunity to strengthen the royal legacy and serve the people, both hills and valley, of the state,” he added.

On Wednesday, Maharaja Sanajaoba’s name was included in the list of nine candidates of BJP for the upcoming elections released by the central election committee (CEC).

At present, BJP state president Kshetrimayum Bhananda is the seating member of the Upper House from Manipur, whose term is due to expire on April 19 this year.

The Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled to take place on March 26.