Imphal, December 03 2009: All four individuals who filed nomination papers for the by-election to Yaiskul Assembly Aonstituency have been approved by the Returning Officer today.

The four nominees whose candidacies were approved after the scrutiny procedures are Indian National Congress candidate Elangbam Suraj, Soubam Rajendrakumar of the Janata Dal (Secular), and Independent candidates Aribam Jagdish and Hanjabam Jaydeva alias Gandhi.

With the exception of the INC nominee, the RO also informally conveyed to the three remaining candidates their respective election symbols.

Rajendrakumar will contest the by-poll on the symbol of a woman carrying fruits (in basket), Jagdish assigned the basket symbol and Gandhi allotted candle.

Inspite of being a political party the Janata Dal (secular) is yet to be granted recognition by the Election Commissioner thereby the woman with fruit basket to Rajendrakumar.

The official announcement of the election symbols is likely to be made after the withdrawal, if any, of nomination papers.

Interacting with newspersons after the scrutiny process, INC's E Suraj conceded that he is politically naive and had no prior intention to join politics but his desire to translate into action promises made by his father (late E Kunjeshore) to the electorates of yaiskul AC encouraged him to join in the fray.

moreover, the fact that yaiskul AC inspite of being situated within the Imphal city is bereft of basic amenities and lacking on the development front, and boosted with the encouragement of the kendra's Congress workers and blessing of the electorates had been important factor in deciding to contest the by-poll, he added.

On the otherhand, Independent candidate H Jaydeva alias Gandhi confided that having become councillor of Imphal Municipal Council for two consecutive terms he would like to test politics at a higher level and thus decided to contest the by-poll.

Regarding his decision to contest as an independent inspite of his long association with the Congress party, Jaydeva said allotting INC ticket to a newcomer was the proverbial last-straw for his parting ways with the national political party.

Sharing his opinion, S Rajendrakumar said defeat of the Congress party is his ultimate goal that prompted him to join in the fray and pledged to work for exposing individuals who rely on politics and political influence to plunder the public.

Promoting peace and sustaining unity among the people have been outlined as the cherished objectives of the Janata Dal (S) nominee.

Accusing the O Ibobi Singh-led SPF Govt as anti-people and failing to protect the lives of civilian population, Rajendrakumar called upon the electorates to take advantage of the by-election for teaching a befitting lesson to the SPF Government.

Meanwhile, the other Independent candidate A Jagdish described the by-poll as a platform for trial of the Congress party against the horrendous fate that befell upon Rabina and Sanjit.

Outlining that his agenda of contesting the poll is on the plank of exposing casualties suffered by the civilians during the stint of the present Govt, Jagdish also confessed that despite his earlier association with some political parties keen desire to work with the general masses encouraged him to contest as an independent.

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