Suraj wins Yaiskul A/C by-poll
Voters have taught Oppn a good lesson: CM Ibobi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 23 2009: Congress retained Yaiskul Assembly seat with its candidate E Suraj winning the bye-election held to fill the seat of the Manipur Legislative Assembly left vacant by the untimely death of sitting Congress MLA, E Kunjeshwor in September this year.

While felicitating the victory of Congress candidate Suraj at Congress bhavan here this afternoon, elated Congress leaders including Chief Minister O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikha-ngam have said that people of Yaiskul Assembly Constituency have taught the opposition parties a good lesson.

Congress candidate, E Suraj (son of the Late MLA) defeated his nearest rival Independent candidate Hanjabam Jayadeva by a margin of 943 votes.

Suraj secured 9799 votes while Jayadeva who was supported by the opposition parties like MPP and BJP got 8856 votes out of the total valid 19,616 votes.

Soubam Rajendrakumar of Janata Dal (Secular) secured only 834 votes and Aribam Jagadish, another Independent candidate got only 127 votes.

The bye-election to 14-Yaiskul Assembly Constituency was held on December 19 last with large turnout of voters�83.48 percent and the counting was held today at the mini secretariat of Imphal East district at DC office complex, Porompat.

Congress felicitated the just elected Suraj this afternoon at the Congress Bhavan, BT road here.

Minister and MLAs of the party including Chief Minister, O Ibobi and MPCC president Gaikha-ngam attended the felicitation function.

Chief Minister Ibobi lauded the Congress workers for winning the bye-election but he was not satisfied with the votes secured.

Chief Minister O Ibobi garlanding E Suraj and Gaikhangam claps

He said that the party expected the bye-election to be a crucial one but voters of Yaiskul A/C had taught the opposition parties a good lesson.

But the votes they expected to get could not be secured, but he expressed happiness.

They will not forget the support extended to the party, the Chief Minister said and expressed gratitude to the people of the constituency.

During the two terms of Congress rule in the state, the party has been facing various difficult tasks.

Facing bye-election every year due to death of sitting MLAs, the government has had hard time in taking up developmental works.

Now, the party is to translate into action the commitment given to the people at the time of election.

Only then, the people will have confidence in the party, he said and appealed to the Ministers, MLAs and party workers not to forget the commitment given to people at the time of election.

He also said, election to the state Assembly will come up in 2012.From now, party men need to work hard to improve party position for success in the election.

The MPPC president, Gaikha-ngam described the bye-election to the Yaiskul Assembly constituency as an important mandate of the Congress.

For the first time, the opposition parties extended support to an Independent candidate.

The attitude indicated that there is no opposition party in the state.

Gaikhangam said, voting in favour of Congress candidate showed that on seeing the performance of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, the people have total faith in Congress.

The bye-poll result also indicated that except Congress no other political parties were suited with Manipur.

Congress workers cannot keep away from the people by any force.

Congress will do works knowing the sentiment of the people.

Getting less votes against the expectation of the party should be treated as warning to the party and workers should try their best not to loss confident of the people, he convinced party workers.