BJP, other ruling parties win Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram RS seats

Imphal/Shillong/Aizawl, June 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The candidates of the ruling BJP in Manipur, the MNF in Mizoram and Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) won the single Rajya Sabha seats in each state, elections for which were held on Friday, elections officials said.

Voting was held for three Rajya Sabha seats in Manipur, Meghalaya and Mizoram on Friday, with a bit of hectic political drama in Imphal where the situation is altering fast, given the changing political equations since Wednesday.

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba won the state's Rajya Sabha seat, defeating the Congress nominee, Tongbram Mangibabu Singh by a margin of only four votes. Out of the 52 valid votes cast, the BJP candidate managed 28 votes while Congress aspirant got 24 votes.

In Meghalaya, Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) sponsored National People's Party candidate W. R. Kharlukhi, who secured 39 votes, won the election beating Kennedy Khyriem, who bagged 19 votes while one member remained abstained from voting and one vote was rejected.

In Mizoram, in a triangular contest, ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) candidate K. Vanlalvena won by securing 27 votes, defeating Zoram Peoples Movement candidate B. Lalchhanzova (7 votes) and Congress nominee Lallianchhunga (5 votes).

In the 40-member Mizoram assembly, lone BJP MLA Buddha Dhan Chakma abstained from voting.

Meanwhile, ruling BJP nominee Nabam Rebia had on June 12 won the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Arunachal Pradesh unopposed. Rebia, who represented the northeastern state in the Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms from 1996 to 2002 and 2002 to 2008 as a Congress candidate, was declared winner after the withdrawal of nominations ended on June 12.

Source: IANS