Imphal, May 13: Dr Thokchom Meinya of the Indian national Congress has been elected from the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency defeating his nearest rival Dr Moirangthem Nara Singh of the Communist Party of india by a margin of 49,319 votes.

This is the first time since 1995 that the Congress has won the Inner Parliamentary seat.

Th Chaoba was the then Congress candidate.

He defeated N Pahari of the FPM then.

The Imphal West Deputy Commissioner Y Surchandra who is also the Returning Officer of the Lok Sabha elections in Manipur issued the certificate proclaiming Meinya's victory.

The Congress nominee Dr Th Meinya who also holds the Higher and Technical Education portfolio in the O Ibobi Singh Ministry polled 1,54,040 votes including 21 postal ballots.

From the total of 4,16,353 in the Inner seat 19 postal ballot were rejected due to various reasons while there was no rejection pertaining to normal voting.

CPI candidate Dr M nara secured 1,04,721 votes while former MP of the BJP Thounaojam Chaoba Singh finished a poor fourth with only 66,476 votes compared to his winning margin of 1,53,387 votes polled during the 13th Lok Sabha elections.

Federal Party of Manipur candidate Dr Leisangthem Chandramani pipped the former MP to third position polling 88,133 votes.

Independent candidates Nongmaithem Iboyaima and Nongmaithem Homendra tallied 1651 and 1356 votes respectively.

The state electorates exercised their franchise on April 26 with repolling conducted in three polling stations two days later.

Mention may be made that out of the six candidates who contested the Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency four were considered to be serious contender swith the two independents predictably finishing down the rank.

With the exception of Th chaoba this the maiden venture for all the other contestants.

It may be recalled that Dr Meinya got elected to the 8th State Legislative assembly on a DRPP ticket from Konthoujam Assembly Constituency before joining Congress after being inducted in the SPF Ministry as Science and Technology Minister.

Meinya's nearest rival Dr Nara is also the Sericulture, Art and Culture Minister in the present SPF Government.

Nara got elected to the State Assembly from Wangjing-tentha kendra which is included in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency.

On the otherhand, Th Chaoba has not only been an MLA and Minister for umpteen times but also got elected as an MP three times and served as Minister of State at the Centre.

He is from Nambol Assembly Constituency.

The other notable figure who contested the Inner seat Lok Sabha election but suffered defeat is Dr L chandramani who was a Minister, Speaker as well as a Deputy Chief Minister in the erstwhile MSCP led Govt and even a Deputy Chief Minister in the previous State Government and is from Patsoi kendra.

The new MP Dr Meinya from Joipurkhul of Khumbong was born on October 12, 1945 at Moirangchel Hingkol (Aheibam Leikai) of Moidangpok to (late) Thokchom Tarpon Singh but spent his childhood in the care of maternal grandparents.

Meinya completed MSc, LL.B from Guwahati University and M Phil & PhD (astronomy and Astrophysics) from Hyderabad's Osmania University.

He completed matriculation from Model High School, Sagolband Khamnam Leirak and graduated from DM College, Imphal.