Imphal, November 20: The State unit of the BJP is set to elect its new president on December 1 and the necessary notification is likely to be issued soon.

The election of a new State unit president was necessitated after former MP Th Chaoba resigned from the post on January 10 this year and former Speaker Dr H Borbabu took over as the adhoc president from March 7.Earlier the president of the State BJP was to be appointed/elected on November 21 as per the instructions of the National Returning Officer of the party, but due to the general strike the election date has been deferred to December 1.According to the State unit general secretary of the party, Prof S Tiken, the last date of filing nomination paper for the post is 4 pm of November 30.Scrutiny of the nomination papers will then be held, he said and added that nomination papers can be withdrawn two hours before the election.

A well placed source informed that a three way contest may be seen for the post of president.

Those likely to contest are, Dr H Borbabu, vice president S Shantikumar and former executive member Y Mangi.

However with the 9th Assembly election just round the corner, the high command of the party may try to see if a consensus candidate can be appointed to the post.

The source said that the high command may eventually settle for Dr H Borbabu as the consensus candidate to avoid any internal rift that an open contest may give rise to.

BJP MLA M Bhorot has been appointed as the State Returning Officer, said the source and added that since he has not shown any interest in the post, Bhorot may be counted out of the reckoning.

On the other hand, a two day seminar of the BJP Yuva Morcha and Mahila Morcha will be held on December 2 and 3 respectively.

A number of National BJP leaders are expected to attend the two said seminars.

Comment