Congress tastes defeat after three by poll victories on the trot in the 9th Assembly
Trinamool Congress makes its debut in State Assembly
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17 2011: Defeating the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) in the by-election to 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency, Trinamool Congress has for the first time opened its account assuring a seat in the State Assembly.

Successful candidate of Trinamool Congress, Konthoujam Sarat has asserted that public have taught a lesson to the Congress party which lives under the impression that election could be won with muscle and money power.

In the result of the by-election to 18-Konthoujam Assembly Constituency which was declared today morning, Trinamool Congress candidate Konthoujam Sarat defeated the candidate of INC Dr Sapam Ranjan by a margin of 655 votes.

Konthoujam Sarat received a total of 9592 votes, Dr Sapam Ranjan could garner only 8937 votes.

The Independent candidate Khangembam Ranjit, who came third, got 3831 votes.

Out of the 28 polling stations of the by-election, Konthoujam Sarat led in 16 polling stations while defeated INC candidate Dr Sapam Ranjan led in 10 polling stations and the Independent candidate Khangembam Ranjit leading in just two polling stations.

In polling station 18/11-Yurembam High School, the Trinamool Congress candidate Konthoujam Sarat received the highest number of votes with 687 while he garnered the least number of votes of 211 at polling station no.18/4 .

K Sarat being handed over the certificate after his victory in the by poll and police swing into action to control a crowd

On the other hand, defeated INC candidate Dr Sapam Ranjan recorded the highest number of votes in his favour at 576 in polling station 18/14-Konthoujam Makha Junior High School while polling station 18/4-Khumbong Upgraded Junior Basic School (East Wing) turned out to be his weakest spot with 175 votes in his favour.

In case of Independent candidate Khangembam Ranjit, highest of 360 votes in his favour was recorded in polling station 18/5-Khumbong Upgraded Junior Basic School (West Wing) and 8 votes in pollingstation 18/12-Konthoujam Mamang Girls' LP School.

While Independent candidate Khangembam Ranjit received 352 and 360 votes in polling stations 18/4 and 18/5 respectively, the Congress candidate came second getting only 213 votes in polling station 18/5, which is also the home polling station of Congress MP Dr Thokchom Meinya.

In polling station 18/13-Konthoujam Lairembi Junior High School, which is the home polling station of both the contending Congress and Trinamool Congress candidate, the 352 votes went in favour of the successful candidate K Sarat while 492 votes in favour of the defeated Congress candidate Dr Sapam Ranjan.

Talking to mediapersons after the announcement of his winning in the by-election, an exuberant Trinamool Congress candidate Konthoujam Sarat categorically declared that the defeat of ruling Congress party in the by-election has shown that the people Konthoujam and Manipur at large are against the corrupt practices of the Government.

In the by-election, people of Konthoujam have also taught a lesson to the Congress which lives under the impression that the election could be won with muscle and money power, Sarat added.

Expressing gratitude to the people of Konthoujam Assembly Constituency for reposing faith on him, Sarat said that they have taken the first step towards bringing about a change in governance.

He also conveyed his gratitude to party president Kim Gangte as well as to BJP and MPP for their unstinted support.

On his priorities as an elected representative, Sarat assured that despite limited time he would ensure distribution of PDS items to the people and development of communication facilities.

Later in the afternoon, a reception function in honour of Sarat was hosted at the office of Trinamool Congress State unit.

Leaders of BJP and MPP were also present at the reception.

Speaking at the occasion, president of State unit Trinamool Congress and ex-MP Kim Gangte observed that even though Congress have succeeded in three out of four by-elections held during the time of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led Congress Government, the defeat of the Congress in the 4th by-election indicates that the 'die-in-harness quota' of Congress has failed.

The flower (party symbol) of Trinamool Congress, which is not even one year old in Manipur, has started blooming for the first time in all its glory.

This is a great victory not only for the party but also for all the people in Manipur, Kim Gangte said.

He also hailed the leaders of BJP and MPP who have fully backed the Trinamool Congress candidate in the by-election despite facing threats to their lives.

The administration of the Congress led Government is not acceptable to the people any more and the by-election to the Konthoujam Assembly Constituency has give the first opportunity to the people to bring about a political change for the better, she exhorted, while describing the successful party candidate K Sarat as a person who started working for the welfare of the people as a social worker from the grassroots level.

While returning from the party office after the reception, Sarat did not forget his workers.

He toured the entire length and breadth of Konthoujam Assembly Constituency to meet them and expressed his gratitude for their support.

On receiving news about the proposed visit of Sarat, every households erected plantain trees in front of their gates and lit candles and incense sticks.

Supporters of Sarat also took out an impromptu rally covering the entire Constituency shouting slogans like 'The poor has won', Truth triumph', 'Vote cannot be bought', etc.

Amid the all pervasive atmosphere of jubilation, some supporters of Sarat who were coming in a Maruti car were allegedly beaten up by the some Congress workers while passing in front of the residential gate of defeated Congress candidate Dr Sapam Ranjan.

The Congress workers also damaged the Maruti car.

One of the occupants in the Maruti car who sustained serious injuries have been admitted in the hospital.