In a boost to Janata Dal-United, Manipur unit, two more political leaders - former minister Md Abdul Nasir of 30 Lilong AC and former MLA Dwijamani Singh of 38 Hiyanglam ac - joined the party on Saturday, sources said.
The JD-U announced the development in a release signed by the JD-U state coordinator M Surjit Singh.
Elangbam Dwijamani Singh was elected as INC candidate in 2007 and in the 2017 state legislative assembly election, he contested under the same party ticket but was defeated by BJP candidate Radheshyam Yumnam with an additional vote of 1,725.
Md Abdul Nasir was elected as INC candidate in the 2012 state legislative assembly election and was re-elected in 2017 election under the same party ticket. However, he tendered his resignation from the Congress party in 2020.
In the by-poll of Lilong assembly constituency conducted in 2020, independent candidate Y Antas Khan won the election and later he supported and joined BJP on November 23, 2021.
The JD-U on January 25 had issued a press note stating that first list of candidates for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election 2022 will be announced on January 27 evening. However, the party is yet to declare the candidates.
When this reporter asked state JD-U secretary general M Dorendro Singh regarding the delay in the announcement of candidate list, he said, "With the coming of new intending candidates to the party the process of scrutiny is still undergoing. There will be no phase-wise announcement of candidate for the party and the list of candidates for the party will be announced shortly".
On Friday, Jiribam MLA Ashab Uddin joined the party after resigning from the Manipur Legislative Assembly.
Also Read: Jiribam MLA Ashab Uddin, Congress ticket aspirant join JD-U
Indian National Congress intending candidate of Thongju assembly constituency Shanglakpam Preshorjit Singh along with 25 members of Thongju Block Congress committee, including 13 women Congress workers, also joined the JD-U on Friday.
Earlier, sitting MLA Kh Joykisan too joined the Janata Dal-United. READ: Sitting Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan officially joins JD (U)
Also Read: Manipur Congress MLA Kh Joykisan Singh suspended from INC
