Manipur Janata Dal-United (JD-U) candidate Th Arunkumar and rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate O Henry on Tuesday asserted their strength over the other in Wangkhei constituency for the coming state Assembly elections 2022. While the former assured JD-U’s victory in the constituency, the latter said this election would be an “easy win” for him.
Speaking to mediapersons at his residence in Chingmeirong, Imphal East on Tuesday, Th Arunkumar claimed the strong support of Muslim Council Manipur (MCM) president Haji Arafat Ali and his supporters.
“With the joining of Haji Arafat, who is also the founder member of Hatta Golapati, having supporter of around 3,500 Muslim voters of Wangkhei, JD-U victory in Wangkhei is assured,” he said.
MCM president Haji Arafat Ali along with his supporters on Tuesday announced to support Th Arunkumar, while in search of a sincere and honest leader from Wangkhei constituency who has a vision.
Haji Arafat, who claimed to be a former supporter of BJP candidate O Henry, said, “I announced to support Arunkumar after thoroughly studying his dedication and will to serve the public without stepping back”.
Meanwhile, Th Arunkumar said that the people of Wangkhei AC had already witnessed the performance of two of his rival candidates (O Henry of BJP and Y Erabot of NPP) as an MLA and the public wanted a new face to be their MLA.
“Considering all the welfare activities which I have taken up as a social worker, the public want to witness my activities as an MLA,” he added.
However, O Henry asserted that the claiming of victory by Arunkumar before declaring the result is just a thought.
“In fact, none of the other three candidates of Wangkhei AC are my competitors, the ensuing election will be an easy win for me,” he added.
The BJP ticket of Wangkhei was bagged by Henry by outsmarting sitting BJP MLA Y Erabot now in NPP, and Arunkumar, who joined the JD-U after being denied a BJP ticket. The other candidate of Wangkhei AC is Rajkumar Priyobarta of INC.
